Zhang Nan (Three Kingdoms)

Zhang Nan
General of Shu Han
Born (Unknown)
Died 222
Names
Traditional Chinese 張南
Simplified Chinese 张南
Pinyin Zhāng Nán
Wade–Giles Chang Nan
Courtesy name Wenjin (simplified Chinese: 文进; traditional Chinese: 文進; pinyin: Wénjìn; Wade–Giles: Wen-chin)
This is a Chinese name; the family name is Zhang.

Zhang Nan (died 222), courtesy name Wenjin, was a military general of the state of Shu Han in the Three Kingdoms period.

Life

Zhang Nan was originally from Jing Province. He served as a military officer under Liu Bei, the founding emperor of the state of Shu Han in the Three Kingdoms era, and accompanied him to Yi Province (covering present-day Sichuan and Chongqing) in the early 210s.[1]

In 221, Liu Bei attacked his former ally, Sun Quan (the founding emperor of Eastern Wu), after the latter broke their alliance and seized his territories in Jing Province and executed his general Guan Yu. Zhang Nan participated in this campaign, which led to the Battle of Xiaoting (or Battle of Yiling) of 221–222, and was appointed as the Vanguard (前部督) of the Shu army. In the summer of 222, Sun Quan's forces, led by Lu Xun, suddenly launched a counter-attack after about six months of stalemate since the beginning of 222.[2] Zhang Nan was killed in action.[3]

The Shu writer Yang Xi (楊戲) praised Zhang Nan for his courage and mentioned that he faced the same fate as Feng Xi.[4]

See also

References

  1. ↑ (文進名南，亦自荊州隨先主入蜀，領兵從先主征吳，與習俱死。) Pei Songzhi's annotation in Sanguozhi vol. 45.
  2. ↑ (漢人自巫峽建平連營至夷陵界，立數十屯，以馮習為大督，張南為前部督，自正月與吳相拒，至六月不決。) Zizhi Tongjian vol. 69.
  3. ↑ (初，先主忿孫權之襲關羽，將東征，秋七月，遂帥諸軍伐吳。 ... 後十餘日，陸議大破先主軍於猇亭，將軍馮習、張南等皆沒。) Sanguozhi vol. 32.
  4. ↑ (... 文進奮身，同此顛沛， ...) Sanguozhi vol. 45.