Zhang Jiao

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Zhang Jiao or Zhang Jue (d. 184) (Simplified Chinese: 张角; Traditional Chinese: 張角; Pinyin: Zhāng Jiǎo or Zhāng Jué) was the leader of the Yellow Turbans during the late Eastern Han Dynasty of China. He was said to be a sorcerer, and was a follower of Taoism.

The Rebellion

Giving himself the title of "Great Teacher", he led the Yellow Turban Rebellion with his younger brothers Zhang Bao and Zhang Liang in a campaign called "The Way of Heaven" or "The Way of Peace". He and his brothers had their own power. Zhang Bao was the general of land, and his brother general of people. And Zhang Jiao was the general of heaven. The Yellow Turbans claimed to be Taoists, and rebelled against the Han because of the high taxes placed against them. They conquered much in the early years of the rebellion, but when the Han sent out a distress call, gaining the talent of people such as Liu Bei, Cao Cao and Sun Jian, the lack of ability of his generals showed. The Yellow Turbans; however, were still a strong threat until the death of Zhang Jiao; when, due to a lack of a good leader, it imploded on itself.

It is said that Zhang Jiao is the grandson of the founder of the Tianshi Dao (Celestial Masters) Sect of Taoism, Zhang Daoling.

In Romance of the Three Kingdoms

Zhang Jiao (Zhang Jue) also features in the historical novel, Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Zhang's character is introduced in the Chapter One:

At that time, there lived three brothers in Julu Commandery: Zhang Jue,^[1] Zhang Bao and Zhang Liang. Zhang Jue was a failure in the county level examination. He had gone into the mountains to gather some medicinal herbs, when he came across an old man; the old man had a youthful countenance, and was carrying a fat-hen walking stick. The old man beckoned Jue into a cave, presented him with a book in three volumes which had come from the heavens, then said, "This book is called The Essential Art of Great Peace. Once you have mastered its contents, you will represent the heavens in spreading this knowledge, and thereby save all of mankind. If you start to have second thoughts, there will be terrible consequences for you." Jue enquired as to the old man's name. The old man said, "I am the old immortal spirit from the southern lands."^[2] With that, the old man vanished into thin air.

Upon receiving this book, Jue practiced night and day. Eventually, he could summon the wind and rain, and came to be known as the Great Peace Daoist. (Wikisource translation)

He then goes on to found the rebellion known as the Yellow Turban Rebellion. Little time is devoted to Zhang Jue in the book, and his death is given a line in the second chapter: "Zhang Jue had died before his (Huangfu Song's) arrival."

Modern references

• Zhang Jiao is a playable character in the Koei video game series, Dynasty Warriors. He is portrayed as a magician with a rather ridiculous manner of speech.

• Zhang Jiao also appears in the Koei video game Warriors Orochi. He forms the Yellow Turbans and allies with Xiao Qiao and Okuni, who have become friends. They are an independent force, eventually joining Oda Nobunaga's army.

External links

• - Sanguo Yanyi Officer Biography by Jonathan Wu
• - Online version of Romance of the Three Kingdoms

Notes

1. ^ Zhang's given name, while written the same way in Chinese, is either Jue or Jiao in English. Jue is the more traditional reading; Jiao is more modern.
2. ^ Another name for Zhuangzi. After his death, Zhuangzi was deified by his followers. They said that he would later travel to the north, and ascend to the heavens as an immortal in a blaze of fire. In the first year of the Tianbao era (742), Emperor Xuanzong of Tang gave Zhuangzi the appellation true man from the southern lands. (三國演義校注, page 10, note 24, ISBN 957911305X)

References

• Chen Shou (2002). San Guo Zhi. Yue Lu Shu She. ISBN 7-80665-198-5. 
• Luo Guanzhong (1986). San Guo Yan Yi. Yue Lu Shu She. ISBN 7-80520-013-0. 
• Lo Kuan-chung; tr. C.H. Brewitt-Taylor (2002). Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Tuttle Publishing. ISBN 0-8048-3467-9. 

See also

• Three Kingdoms
• Personages of the Three Kingdoms
• Records of Three Kingdoms
• Romance of the Three Kingdoms

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