Zhang Jun

Who was Zhang Jun?

Zhang Jun, style name Deyuan, was a Chinese general of the Song dynasty. A native of Mianzhu, Sichuan, he is also known by the pseudonym Zǐyán Jūshì.

Zhang rose to hold various important civil and military posts, and was successful on several occasions in checking the incursions of the Chinese Tatars, notably in 1118 and 1126. He was for war and extermination, and would hear of no compromise with these enemies of his country. In reference to his mission of defence to Shanxi and Sichuan, Zhao Ding said of him that he had "repaired the heavens and cleansed the sun." In 1137 he fell a victim to the intrigues of Qin Hui, whose policy he steadily opposed, and was sent to Yongzhou in Hunan, where he remained until the death of his rival in 1155. He was then recalled, and once more played a leading but ineffectual part. He was ennobled as Duke, and afterwards raised to the rank of Prince. He was deeply read, especially in the Classic of Changes, on which he wrote a commentary. Zhang was canonised as Zhōngyàn.