Liu Zhang (pronunciation (help·info)) (fl. 190–219), courtesy nameJiyu, was a Chinese politician and warlord who served as provincial governor who lived in the late Eastern Han dynasty of China. He became the Governor of Yi Province (covering present-day Sichuan and Chongqing), succeeding his father Liu Yan and ruled the region until 214, when he surrendered to Liu Bei. Six years later, Liu Zhang again surrendered to Eastern Wu, and died shortly afterwards. Liu Zhang is often considered an incapable leader but is noted to have been the original lord of some of Shu Han's most famous generals and officials such as Fa Zheng, Meng Da, Zhang Ni, Liu Ba, Huang Quan, Wu Yi, Li Yan, Dong He and others.
Liu Zhang was a descendant of Liu Yu, who was Prince of Lu in the early Han dynasty.[3]
The youngest son of Liu Yan, Liu Zhang spent his early career at the Han imperial court as an assistant to his two eldest brothers, Liu Fan and Liu Dan. They served at the court when it was controlled by the warlords Li Jue and Guo Si. Liu Zhang was sent by the imperial court to admonish his father for brutal actions, but upon arriving his father refused to let him go back to the imperial court.[4]
Governorship of Yi Province
Map showing the major warlords of the Han dynasty in the 190s, including Liu Zhang
In 194, following the deaths of his elder brothers[5] and then his father, he took over the governorship of Yi Province. During his rule over Yi Province, he did not show ambition to expand his territory, but it is said that he was a good ruler and maintained peace in his realm.[citation needed]
In 200,[6]Zhang Lu, who had previously recognised Liu Yan as his master, rebelled against Liu Zhang. Liu Zhang had Zhang Lu's mother, and younger brother(s) executed; the pair became enemies from this point on.[7]
In late 208, Liu Zhang received news that Cao Cao was attacking Jingzhou and had already occupied Hanzhong. He dispatched Yin Pu (阴溥) as an emissary to pay homage to Cao. Cao then recommended that Liu Zhang and his brother Liu Mao (husband of Lady Wu) be granted positions as generals. Liu Mao later died from illness.[8]
In 211, at the suggestion of his adviser Zhang Song, he asked Liu Bei to come to his assistance in the battle against Zhang Lu. The welcoming of Liu Bei was a plan by Zhang Song, Fa Zheng and Meng Da to ultimately make him their leader, since they considered him more ambitious and worthy of serving than Liu Zhang. Wang Lei (王累), Huang Quan, Li Hui and others tried to persuade Liu Zhang not to accept Liu Bei into his territory, but their pleas were ignored and Liu Bei was welcomed as a guest of Liu Zhang where he would go to the front to fight against Zhang Lu.[9]
When Zhang Song's true intentions were revealed to Liu Zhang by Zhang Song's elder brother Zhang Su, he executed Zhang Song and began his battle against Liu Bei, who then began his conquest of Yi Province. Although generals such as Zhang Ren fought hard to defend their master, Liu Bei's forces had the upper hand, and by 214 they had surrounded Yi Province's capital, Chengdu. Liu Zhang's advisers Liu Ba, Dong He and Hu Jing pleaded to their master to resist at all costs, but Liu Zhang rejected their pleas, saying "I don't want my subjects to suffer any more." He then surrendered to Liu Bei.[10]
Later life
Soon after surrendering his territory, Liu Bei sent Liu Zhang and his second son Liu Chan to the western part of Jing Province, on the border with Sun Quan's territory. In the winter of 219-220, however, forces led by Lü Meng, a subordinate of Sun Quan, captured Liu Bei's general Guan Yu and executed him, seizing Jing Province. Liu Zhang and Liu Chan were taken in by the Wu forces, and Sun Quan, seeking to establish a claim to the rest of Liu Bei's territory, appointed Liu Zhang as the Governor of Yi Province, which was his previous appointment before Liu Bei seized it from him. However, Sun Quan made no further attempts to invade Liu Bei's territory, and Liu Zhang died shortly after becoming a vassal under Sun Quan. Liu Chan continued to serve in Eastern Wu while Liu Xun served in Shu Han.
Family
Liu Zhang had at least two sons. His eldest son, Liu Xun (劉循), served as a General of the Household of Equipage in the Shu Han state during the Three Kingdoms period. His second son, Liu Chan (劉闡), accompanied his father to Jing Province after their defeat by Liu Bei and served as Palace Assistant Imperial Clerk (御史中丞) in Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period.
Historical evaluation
In popular accounts of the period, such as the 14th-century historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Liu Zhang is portrayed as a foolish and incapable ruler.
In Chen Shou's Records of the Three Kingdoms, Liu Zhang's rule is said to have been very peaceful until events of the period brought Liu Bei into his territory. However, Chen Shou, who had once served as an official in Shu Han, and still held some sympathy for his former masters, suggested that Liu Bei rightfully wrested leadership of Yi Province from Liu Zhang.
^Guan Yu was killed in January or February 220. Since Liu Zhang died shortly after this incident, he likely died in 220.
^Pang Xi's daughter married Liu Xun, Liu Zhang's elder son. (璋长子循妻，庞羲女也。) Sanguozhi, vol.31
^Rafe de Crespigny (1967). "An Outline of the Local Administrations of the Later Han Empire" (PDF). Chung-chi Journal: 57–71.
^(献帝使璋晓谕焉，焉留璋不遣。) Sanguozhi, vol.31. A Dianlüe annotation in the same volume claimed that Liu Yan feigned illness, which gave Liu Zhang the excuse to leave the imperial court. (《典略》曰：时璋为奉车都尉，在京师。焉托疾召璋，璋自表省焉，焉遂留璋不还。)
^Liu Zhang's brother Liu Mao was still alive at this time, but it is unclear if he was older or younger than Liu Zhang.
zhang, warlord, other, people, named, zhang, zhang, disambiguation, zhang, pronunciation, help, info, courtesy, name, jiyu, chinese, politician, warlord, served, provincial, governor, lived, late, eastern, dynasty, china, became, governor, province, covering, . For other people named Liu Zhang see Liu Zhang disambiguation Liu Zhang pronunciation help info fl 190 219 courtesy name Jiyu was a Chinese politician and warlord who served as provincial governor who lived in the late Eastern Han dynasty of China He became the Governor of Yi Province covering present day Sichuan and Chongqing succeeding his father Liu Yan and ruled the region until 214 when he surrendered to Liu Bei Six years later Liu Zhang again surrendered to Eastern Wu and died shortly afterwards Liu Zhang is often considered an incapable leader but is noted to have been the original lord of some of Shu Han s most famous generals and officials such as Fa Zheng Meng Da Zhang Ni Liu Ba Huang Quan Wu Yi Li Yan Dong He and others Liu Zhang劉璋A Qing dynasty illustration of Liu ZhangGeneral Who Inspires Might 振威將軍 In office c 214 c 214 c 220 c 220 MonarchEmperor Xian of HanGovernor of Yi Province 益州牧 In office c 194 c 194 214 214 MonarchEmperor Xian of HanPreceded byLiu YanSucceeded byLiu BeiInspector of Yi Province 益州刺史 In office c 194MonarchEmperor Xian of HanPersonal detailsBornUnknownQianjiang HubeiDiedc 220 1 ChildrenLiu XunLiu ChanFei Guan s wifeParentLiu Yan father RelativesLady Wu sister in law Pang Xi in laws 2 OccupationPolitician warlordCourtesy nameJiyu 季玉 In this Chinese name the family name is Liu Contents 1 Early life 2 Governorship of Yi Province 3 Later life 4 Family 5 Historical evaluation 6 See also 7 ReferencesEarly life EditLiu Zhang was a descendant of Liu Yu who was Prince of Lu in the early Han dynasty 3 The youngest son of Liu Yan Liu Zhang spent his early career at the Han imperial court as an assistant to his two eldest brothers Liu Fan and Liu Dan They served at the court when it was controlled by the warlords Li Jue and Guo Si Liu Zhang was sent by the imperial court to admonish his father for brutal actions but upon arriving his father refused to let him go back to the imperial court 4 Governorship of Yi Province Edit Map showing the major warlords of the Han dynasty in the 190s including Liu Zhang In 194 following the deaths of his elder brothers 5 and then his father he took over the governorship of Yi Province During his rule over Yi Province he did not show ambition to expand his territory but it is said that he was a good ruler and maintained peace in his realm citation needed In 200 6 Zhang Lu who had previously recognised Liu Yan as his master rebelled against Liu Zhang Liu Zhang had Zhang Lu s mother and younger brother s executed the pair became enemies from this point on 7 In late 208 Liu Zhang received news that Cao Cao was attacking Jingzhou and had already occupied Hanzhong He dispatched Yin Pu 阴溥 as an emissary to pay homage to Cao Cao then recommended that Liu Zhang and his brother Liu Mao husband of Lady Wu be granted positions as generals Liu Mao later died from illness 8 In 211 at the suggestion of his adviser Zhang Song he asked Liu Bei to come to his assistance in the battle against Zhang Lu The welcoming of Liu Bei was a plan by Zhang Song Fa Zheng and Meng Da to ultimately make him their leader since they considered him more ambitious and worthy of serving than Liu Zhang Wang Lei 王累 Huang Quan Li Hui and others tried to persuade Liu Zhang not to accept Liu Bei into his territory but their pleas were ignored and Liu Bei was welcomed as a guest of Liu Zhang where he would go to the front to fight against Zhang Lu 9 When Zhang Song s true intentions were revealed to Liu Zhang by Zhang Song s elder brother Zhang Su he executed Zhang Song and began his battle against Liu Bei who then began his conquest of Yi Province Although generals such as Zhang Ren fought hard to defend their master Liu Bei s forces had the upper hand and by 214 they had surrounded Yi Province s capital Chengdu Liu Zhang s advisers Liu Ba Dong He and Hu Jing pleaded to their master to resist at all costs but Liu Zhang rejected their pleas saying I don t want my subjects to suffer any more He then surrendered to Liu Bei 10 Later life EditSoon after surrendering his territory Liu Bei sent Liu Zhang and his second son Liu Chan to the western part of Jing Province on the border with Sun Quan s territory In the winter of 219 220 however forces led by Lu Meng a subordinate of Sun Quan captured Liu Bei s general Guan Yu and executed him seizing Jing Province Liu Zhang and Liu Chan were taken in by the Wu forces and Sun Quan seeking to establish a claim to the rest of Liu Bei s territory appointed Liu Zhang as the Governor of Yi Province which was his previous appointment before Liu Bei seized it from him However Sun Quan made no further attempts to invade Liu Bei s territory and Liu Zhang died shortly after becoming a vassal under Sun Quan Liu Chan continued to serve in Eastern Wu while Liu Xun served in Shu Han Family EditLiu Zhang had at least two sons His eldest son Liu Xun 劉循 served as a General of the Household of Equipage in the Shu Han state during the Three Kingdoms period His second son Liu Chan 劉闡 accompanied his father to Jing Province after their defeat by Liu Bei and served as Palace Assistant Imperial Clerk 御史中丞 in Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period Historical evaluation EditIn popular accounts of the period such as the 14th century historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms Liu Zhang is portrayed as a foolish and incapable ruler In Chen Shou s Records of the Three Kingdoms Liu Zhang s rule is said to have been very peaceful until events of the period brought Liu Bei into his territory However Chen Shou who had once served as an official in Shu Han and still held some sympathy for his former masters suggested that Liu Bei rightfully wrested leadership of Yi Province from Liu Zhang See also EditLists of people of the Three KingdomsReferences Edit Guan Yu was killed in January or February 220 Since Liu Zhang died shortly after this incident he likely died in 220 Pang Xi s daughter married Liu Xun Liu Zhang s elder son 璋长子循妻 庞羲女也 Sanguozhi vol 31 Rafe de Crespigny 1967 An Outline of the Local Administrations of the Later Han Empire PDF Chung chi Journal 57 71 献帝使璋晓谕焉 焉留璋不遣 Sanguozhi vol 31 A Dianlue annotation in the same volume claimed that Liu Yan feigned illness which gave Liu Zhang the excuse to leave the imperial court 典略 曰 时璋为奉车都尉 在京师 焉托疾召璋 璋自表省焉 焉遂留璋不还 Liu Zhang s brother Liu Mao was still alive at this time but it is unclear if he was older or younger than Liu Zhang Zizhi Tongjian vol 63 而张鲁稍骄恣 不承顺璋 璋杀鲁母及弟 遂为仇敌 Sanguozhi vol 31 璋闻曹公征荆州 已定汉中 遣河内阴溥致敬于曹公 加璋振威将军 兄瑁平寇将军 瑁狂疾物故 Sanguozhi vol 31 Zizhi Tongjian vol 66 Zizhi Tongjian vol 67 Chen Shou 3rd century Records of the Three Kingdoms Sanguozhi Pei Songzhi 5th century Annotations to Records of the Three Kingdoms Sanguozhi zhu Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Liu Zhang warlord amp oldid 1153066976, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
