Zhang Yizhi (張易之)

Overview

Zhang Yizhi was a Courtier.

PeriodSui and Tang

IdentityHistorical · Male

Roles

Found in

Life and dates

Death

Executed
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 114, passage 21

Attested activity

AD 700 to AD 705 AD 700-705
Strongly inferred · New Book of Tang 113, passage 129
AD 705 張易之敗
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 114, passage 219
AD 705 張易之敗
Dated from the passage context · New Book of Tang 123, passage 41
AD 705 易之誅
Dated from the passage context · New Book of Tang 114, passages 20-21
AD 705 誅張易之
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 121, passage 7

Key source chapters

Career and standing

Suffered
Execution
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 114, passage 21

Events and relationships

Fell from power
AD 705 張易之敗 · Political · Subject
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 123, passage 41
Fell from power
Political · Fallen courtier
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 114, passage 219

Assessments and attributes

Assessment abused power with Sansi faction · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 114, passage 245

References in the histories

New Book of Tang, Chapter 113Volume 113 Biographies 38: Tang, Zhang, Xu · 1 passage

Open chapter

請還廬陵王，不為張易之所右。 He petitioned for the return of the Prince of Luling and earned the disfavor of Zhang Yizhi.

New Book of Tang, Chapter 114Volume 114 Biographies 39: Cui Rong and Descendent Cong, Descendent Neng, Neng's Nephew: Shen You, Neng's Nephew an Qian, Neng's Son: Yan Ceng, Xu Yanbo, Su Weidao, Dou Lu Qin Wang · 4 passages

Open chapter

張易之兄弟頗延文學士，融與李嶠、蘇味道、麟台少監王紹宗降節佞附。 Zhang Yizhi and his brothers cultivated literary men, and Rong joined Li Jiao, Su Weidao, and Wang Shaozong, vice-director of the Lin Terrace, in abasing themselves to flatter and attach to them.

易之誅，貶袁州刺史。 After Yizhi was executed, Rong was demoted to prefect of Yuanzhou.

張易之敗，坐黨附，貶眉州刺史。 After Zhang Yizhi's fall he was punished for partisan association and demoted to prefect of Meizhou.

欽望居宰相積十餘年，方易之、三思等怙勢宣烝，窺間王室，戮忠戚，觖冀非常，不能有所裁抑，獨謹身諄諄自全。 Qinwang served as chief minister for more than ten years while Yizhi, Sansi, and their faction abused power, eyed the throne, killed loyal princes and ministers, and pursued extravagant ambitions; he could not restrain them and devoted himself only to cautious self-preservation.

New Book of Tang, Chapter 121Volume 121 Biographies 46: Liu, Zhong, Cui, and the Two Kings · 1 passage

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桓彥範等誅張易之、昌宗，而不殺武三思，幽求謂彥範曰：「公等無葬地矣。 After Huan Yanfan and his allies killed Zhang Yizhi and Changzong but spared Wu Sansi, Youqiu warned Yanfan, "You will leave yourselves no ground for a grave.

New Book of Tang, Chapter 123Volume 123 Biographies 48: Li, Xiao, Lu, Wei, Zhao, He · 1 passage

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張易之敗，坐附會貶豫州刺史，未行，改通州。 After Zhang Yizhi's fall, Qiao was demoted to prefect of Yu for having sided with him; before he took up the post he was reassigned to Tong Prefecture.