Zhang Cang

Zhang Cang 張蒼（BC253—BC152，was born in Yangwu 陽武, which is now called Yuanyang in Henan Province. He was the representative thinker of the Chinese ancient Yin-Yang School. Meanwhile, he was also a Confucian scholar, general, and prime-minister under Liu Bang (Han Gaozu, the founder of the Han dynasty). Evidence on his life is contained in the Book of Han and some later sources.

Life

In his youth, Zhang Cang studied in Xun Kuang's circle, which was known for producing such prominent figures as Han Fei and Li Si. When the state of Qin conquered other vassal states of Zhou Dynasty, he came to Xianyang, the capital of Qin, and became an official to manage the imperial books.[1] During the rule of Er Shi huang, Zhang Cang broke the imperial law and fled to his hometown. At that time, people and the nobles of former six vassal states rose up against the Qin's rule. Liu Bang, a general from Chu, was ordered by King Huai of Chu to lead his army westward. Zhang Cang enrolled Liu Bang's troops upon their passing of Yangwu.

Zhang Cang became a general in Liu Bang's army and arrived in Nanyang. When the Chu troops attacked Nanyang, Zhang's misbehavior became the reason for his condemnation to death. However, he was saved by Wang Ling (王陵), an old friend of Liu Bang and the commander-in-chief, who later succeeded Cao Can on the post of prime minister of the Han Empire. Zhang Cang appreciated Wang Ling greatly from that day on, and regarded Wang Ling as his father. Even when he became the prime minister himself, he would always visit Wang Ling's residence after court meeting to care Wang Ling's wife as his mother after Wang Ling died. According to the Book of Han, Wang Ling saw the stripped Zhang Cang on the spot of execution and wondered at his impressively tall and beautiful body and persuaded Liu Bang to spare Zhang.[2]

In BC 206, Liu Bang was named King of Han Kingdom by [Xiang Yu] another Chu's general and went to his kingdom. Zhang Cang followed him and went to [Hanzhong]. Some months late, some former generals who had no gains from Xiang Yu's post-war arrangement rebelled. Xiang Yu ever drove Emperor Yi, the lord to all the kings in name, to Chen ([Chenzhou] in Hunan Province), and then ordered King of Jiujiang and King of Linjiang secretly to murder the Emperor Yi. Xiang Yu became the bad example that the strong minister drove or kill his majesty.

The former prime minister of Qi who named Tian Rong was very angry because he had nothing and Kingdome of Qi was divided into three independent kingdoms by Xiang Yu. The former king of Qi Tian Fu became King of Jiaodong as per Xiang Yu's arrangement. But Tian Rong stopped King Tian Fu to the throne of Jiaodong Kingdom. Tian Fu is afraid of Xiang Yu, and wanted to go to Jiaodong Kingdome secretly, Tian Rong killed him and made himself as the king of Qi. Then he attacked the other two kings who were appointed by Xiang Yu, and united Qi Kingdom again.

Liu Bang the King of Han was also unsatisfied with Xiang Yu. After Xiang Yu went eastward to [Pengcheng] ([Xuzhou], [Jiangsu] Province), he conquered three kingdoms which Xiang Yu founded. Then Han's troops matched eastward and the small kingdoms between Han and Chu surrendered to Han troops and joint the war against Xiang Yu's West Chu. Zhang Cang was one of the general. After being defeated by Xiang Yu, the other vassal kings turned to Xiang Yu. Liu Bang the king of Han ordered his generals to attack West Wei, Zhao and Dai. Soon three kingdoms was conquered and kings surrendered or killed. Liu Bang the King of Han nominated Zhang Er as the King of Zhao, and Zhang Cang as the Prime Minister to Zhang Er. Then Zhang Cang was changed as the governor of Dai, and then as the Prime Minister when Dai became a kingdom.

Zhang Cang finished his military life after Han Empire put down the rebellion of King Yan. Zhang Cang was rewarded as the Marquis of [Beiping] because of his meritorious service. When [Xiao He] became the Empire's Prime Minister, Zhang Cang was appointed as the Minister of Audit， working as assistant to Prime Minister， because he was wizared with the mathematics and music, and was the master in such field at that time.

In BC195, Ying Bu the King of Huainan Kingdom rose up against Han Empire and soon was defeated and killed, Liu Bang nominated his youngest son Liu Chang as the King of Huanan Kingdom. Zhang Cang was appointed as the Prime Minister of Huainan. In BC181, Zhang Cang came back to [Chang'an] the capital of Han Empire and took the position of Yushi Daifu, the vice Prime Minister and the Supreme Justice of the Empire. The next year, as the member of the clique of meritorious generals and minister, Zhang Cang took part in the coup d'état against Empress Dowager Lu and extinguished the Lu's family as soon as she died. Then Zhang Cang also took part in electing [Liu Heng] the King of Dai Kingdom as the Emperor.

In BC176, Guan Ying the Prime Minister of the Empire died, and Zhang Cang the Yushi Daifu succeeded to the position of Prime Minister of the Empire. He stayed in the position for more than ten years. At then end of rule of Emperor Xiaowen Liu Heng, there was a great discussion of moral nature of Han Dynasty. Some scholar thought Han Dynasty of Earth Moral, and must change the color of emperor and minister's uniforms. Meanwhile, the others thought it of Water Moral, and the empire must continue to use black as the noblest color as usual. Zhang Cang had ever prove the correctness of Water Moral of Han Dynasty in theory when the Empire was founded. Now he was against the theory of Earth Moral, and stick to his theory. But a yellow dragon was found in Chengji, now in Gansu Province, which prove Zhang Cang's theory wrong. Emperor Wendi Liu Heng order to change his first year. So Zhang Cang resigned the Prime Minister of the Empire saying that he was enough old and ill.

In BC152, Zhang Cang was died at the age of more than 100 years. He was given "Wen" (文）as his posthumous title, and so he was called Marquis Wen of Beiping.

Family

Zhang Cang has many concubines. His concubines must provide him their milk as his food when his lost his teeth when he was old.

Thought

Zhang Cang is described as a master the of calendar and music theory at his time, and made great contribution on System Construction of Han Dynasty, according to Sima Qian's record. So Zhang Cang is regarded as the representative of Yin-Yang School. His writings were edited into the book bearing his name.

It is believed that The Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art, the most important book in early history of Chinese mathematics, was edited by him.

Zhang Cang was also a representative Confucian scholar of the transition period from the Warring States to Han. Kong Yingda (574 – 648) names him as recipient of Xunzi's transmission of the Zuo Zhuan (The Zuo Commentary to the Spring and Autumn Chronicle)[3] His expertise in the Zuo Zhuan did not constitute the mainstream in the field, since the Zuo Commentary was related to the Old Text school, while in his time the New Text school was more popular (see New Text Confucianism).

Being a student of Xunzi, he transmitted his teaching to Jia Yi.

References

  1. ↑ 《史记》卷九十六《张丞相列传》载：张苍“秦时为御史，立柱下方书。”《索隐》注曰：“周秦皆有柱下史，谓御史也。所掌及侍立恒在殿柱之下，故老子为周柱下史，今苍在秦代亦居斯职。”
  2. ↑ 蒼當斬，解衣伏質，身長大，肥白如瓠，時王陵見而怪其美士，乃言沛公，赦勿斬。 - in Han shu, 《張周趙任申屠傳》.
  3. ↑ 孔颖达《左传正义》杜预《春秋序》注引刘向《别录》：左丘明授曾申；申授吴起；起授其子期；期授楚人铎椒，铎椒作《抄撮》八卷；授虞卿，虞卿作《抄撮》九卷；授荀卿；荀卿授张苍。

External links

Position career

Preceded by
Guan Ying		 Han Dynasty Prime Minister Succeeded by
Shentu Jia
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