Zhang Jun’s tabooed personal name was Qian, and his courtesy name was Gongfang. His birth origin was Jiwu Prefecture of Chenliu County.

The earliest known ancestor of Zhang Jun dates back to the Zhou Dynasty. At the time when King Xuan of Zhou restored royal authority, there was a man named Zhang Zhong, who was well known for his filial piety and loyalty to friends. And we can be convinced that Zhang Zhong was an ancestor of Zhang Jun by studying “Ya (odes)” and “Song (hymns)” of “Shijing.”

When Liu Bang raised armies (to rebel against the Qin government) before he became Emperor Gaozu of Han, Zhang Liang assisted him in developing strategies within the commander’s tent, thereby ensuring victory a thousand miles away. (After the Han Dynasty was founded, Zhang Liang was granted the title of Marquis of Liu.)

During the reigns between Emperor Wen and Emperor Jing, there was a man named Zhang Shizhi, who was a loyal official. Zhang Shizhi took impartiality as the supreme standard for law enforcement.

One day, while Emperor Wen hunted at Shang Lin Yuan (Supreme Forest Garden), he asked the Yuan Ling (the highestranking official responsible for Shang Lin Yuan) how many birds and beats there were in the forest. However, the Yuan Ling was left speechless by the questions. So the Emperor turned to a Se Fu (the lowest-ranking official), and the Se Fu properly replied to every question he raised.

By comparing their performance, Emperor Wen decided to promote the Se Fu to Yuan Ling and demote the Yuan Ling to Se Fu.

“The Se Fu is a low-ranked official who can only talk about as much as he knows,” Zhang Shizhi suggested “but he is not as capable as the Yuan Ling, who has talents in assuming heavy responsibility for the nation.”

The Emperor followed his advice.

At the reign of Emperor Wu, Zhang Qian’s expeditions promoted cultural exchanges between the western regions and the Han Dynasty, and ensured peace and stability in border regions, which had a major impact on the surrounding barbarian regions in the four directions comprising Nanman in the south, Xirong in the west… (followed by “Dongyi in the east and Beidi in the north”).

Han Dynasty Stele of Zhang Qian

Ryuseki

* During the reign of Emperor Wu, Zhang Qian’s expeditions promoted cultural exchanges between the western regions and the Han Dynasty, and ensured peace and stability in border regions, which had a major impact on the surrounding barbarian regions in the four directions comprising Nanman in the south, Xirong in the west… (followed by “Dongyi in the east and Beidi in the north”).