Biography

Early life

Zhang Jiuling was born in 678, during the reign of Emperor Gaozong. His family was from Qujiang (曲江) in Shao Prefecture (韶州, roughly modern Shaoguan, Guangdong) in the region called Lingnan 岭南), which was at the time a relatively remote area of the Tang empire. His family traced its ancestry to the Jin Dynasty (266–420) chancellor Zhang Hua, and his First Son (張祎). His great-grandfather Zhang Junzheng (張君政) served as the secretary general of Shao Prefecture, and therefore settled there. His grandfather Zhang Zizhou (張子冑) served as a county magistrate, and his father Zhang Hongyu (張弘愈) served as a county secretary general.

Zhang Jiuling was said to be intelligent in his childhood and capable in literary skills. In 685, when he was 12, he had an occasion to write a letter to Wang Fangqing, then the prefect of Guang Prefecture (廣州, roughly modern Guangzhou, Guangdong). Wang was impressed and commented, "This child will do great things in the future." When the official Zhang Yue was exiled to the region, he met Zhang Jiuling and was impressed, and treated Zhang Jiuling with kindness. Zhang Jiuling later passed the jinshi imperial examinations under poet Shen Quanqi 沈佺期 and scored the highest on that occasion. After passing several more exams, in 712 he was appointed zuo shiyi (左拾遺).

He was made a Xiaoshu Lang (校書郎), a clerk at the imperial institute Hongwen Pavilion (弘文館). Later, while Li Longji was crown prince under his father Emperor Ruizong (r. 710-712), he summoned those in the empire known for their literary talent and personally examined them. Zhang scored the highest on this occasion as well, and was made You Shiyi (右拾遺), a consultant at the legislative bureau of government (中書省, Zhongshu Sheng).

During Emperor Xuanzongs reign

In 712, Emperor Ruizong passed the throne to Li Longji, who took the throne as Emperor Xuanzong. For some time, though, Emperor Xuanzong did not sacrifice to heaven and earth outside of the capital Chang'an, as was customary for emperors. Zhang Jiuling submitted a petition asking him to carry out such sacrifices, and Emperor Xuanzong, following his advice, did so. In or around 713, he submitted a petition to the chancellor Yao Chong, pointing out the importance of a clean and fair civil service system, and Yao was impressed.

Zhang became known for his talent in understanding people's talents. At that time, Emperor Xuanzong had him and his colleague Zhao Dongxi (趙冬曦) decide the postings for the people selected for official service by the ministry of civil service affairs, and he and Zhao were considered fair and capable in finding the right posts for people. In 722, he became Sixun Yuanwailang (司勳員外郎), a low level official at the ministry of civil service affairs. At that time, Zhang Yue was a chancellor as Zhongshu Ling (中書令, the head of the legislative bureau), and he considered Zhang Jiuling, as they had the same family name, like a brother, often stating, "He will surely be the most distinguished poet." Zhang Jiuling was also happy that Zhang Shuo appreciated his talent, and therefore became a follower of Zhang Yue's. In 723, he was made a Zhongshu Sheren (中書舍人), a mid-level official at the legislative bureau, serving under Zhang Yue.

In 725, at Zhang Yue's suggestion, Emperor Xuanzong sacrificed to heaven and earth at Mount Tai. After the ceremony, many of the officials that Zhang Shuo favored were to be promoted to high positions. Zhang Yue had Zhang Jiuling draft the edict for the promotions. Knowing that such promotions would draw resentment from others, Zhang Jiuling tried to dissuade Zhang Yue, but Zhang Yue insisted, causing much resentment against Zhang Shuo. In particular, Zhang Jiuling warned Zhang Yue about the minister Yuwen Rong, whom Zhang Shuo did not respect but whom Emperor Xuanzong favored for his talent in gathering money for the imperial treasury. Zhang Yue did not believe Yuwen Rong could do him harm, but in 726 found himself removed after accusations by Yuwen. In the aftermath, Zhang Jiuling was made the deputy minister of worship (太常少卿, Taichang Shaoqing) -- an honored post without much actual authority—and soon was made the prefect of Ji Prefecture (冀州, roughly modern Hengshui, Hebei). Zhang, because his mother was then old and at home in Shao Prefecture, requested to be posted to a prefecture south of the Yangtze River, so that he could better communicate with her. Emperor Xuanzong issued an edict praising him for his filial piety, and made him the commandant at Hong Prefecture (洪州, roughly modern Nanchang, Jiangxi). Zhang was later made the commandant at Gui Prefecture (桂州, roughly modern Guilin, Guangxi) and the examiner of Lingnan Circuit. Emperor Xuanzong further made his brothers Zhang Jiuzhang (張九章) and Zhang Jiugao (張九皋) prefects in the region as well, so that the brothers could all visit their mother on holidays.

Meanwhile, Zhang Yue was no longer chancellor, but was still the head of the imperial institute Jixian Institute (集賢院). He often recommended Zhang Jiuling for his talent. After Zhang Yue died near the new year 731, Emperor Xuanzong remembered Zhang Yue's recommendations and recalled Zhang Jiuling to serve as Mishu Shaojian (秘書少監), the deputy head of the Palace Library, as well as a scholar at Jixian Institute, acting as its head. At that time, it happened that an edict needed to be issued to the vassal kingdom Balhae, but no one could write one well. Emperor Xuanzong had Zhang draft one, and it was written quickly. Soon thereafter, Zhang was made the deputy minister of public works (工部侍郎, Gongbu Shilang) but was put in charge of drafting edicts. He was then made Zhongshu Shilang (中書侍郎), the deputy head of the legislative bureau. In 732, his mother died, and he returned to Shao Prefecture to observe a period of mourning for her.

Around the new year 733, Emperor Xuanzong removed then-chancellors Xiao Song and Han Xiu from their chancellor positions, and named Pei Yaoqing and Zhang to replace them—ordering Zhang to end his period of mourning, which was to last for three years, early, making him Zhongshu Shilang but with the chancellor de facto designation of Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhanshi. After Zhang subsequently arrived at the eastern capital Luoyang, where Emperor Xuanzong was at the time, he requested that he be allowed to return to mourning. Emperor Xuanzong rejected the request.

Later in 733, Zhang proposed that private citizens be allowed to mint money. With opposition from Pei and Liu Zhi, however, Emperor Xuanzong rejected the proposal. Later that year, Zhang was made Zhongshu Ling and continued to serve as chancellor. Other projects that Zhang proposed included reestablishing the offices of examiners of the 10 circuits and also rice farming in the prefectures just south of the Yellow River, which ended in failure. Zhang was further said to be impatient and easily angered, damaging his reputation. However, Zhang was also said to be honest and always seeking to correct the emperor's behavior, even if it offended the emperor. For example, in 735, after the general Zhang Shougui (張守珪) scored a major victory over the Khitan, Emperor Xuanzong wanted to reward Zhang Shougui by making him a chancellor, but Zhang Jiuling pointed out that it was inappropriate to use the chancellorship as a reward, even with just the honorable title and no actual authority (as Emperor Xuanzong considered as well) and that giving Zhang Shougui the chancellorship for defeating the Khitan meant that there would be no other available awards if he were to defeat the Xi and the Eastern Tujue as well. Emperor Xuanzong agreed and did not give Zhang Shougui the chancellorship. Also in 735, Zhang Jiuling was given the honorific title Jinzi Guanglu Daifu (金紫光祿大夫) and created the Count of Shixing. Zhang was also known for his firm friendships with the officials Yan Tingzhi (嚴挺之), Yuan Renjing (袁仁敬), Liang Shengqing (梁升卿) and Lu Yi (盧怡), despite his later taking higher positions than they did, drawing much praise for his commitment to friends.

In 736, after Zhang Shougui suffered a loss because his subordinate An Lushan failed to follow orders, Zhang Shougui, not wanting to kill An but not wanting to release him for fear of losing authority, sent An to Chang'an, asking the emperor to decide the punishment. Zhang Jiuling submitted the suggestion to have An executed, stating:

He also argued that he believed that An had the temperament to commit treason and would surely do so in the future, but Emperor Xuanzong did not agree. Emperor Xuanzong was impressed by An's military talent and ordered that he be reduced to commoner rank and be allowed to stay in the army.

September 14, 736, was Emperor Xuanzong's birthday, and the princes and the dukes all offered jeweled mirrors as gifts. Zhang Jiuling, believing that the best way to reflect on oneself was to look at others, wrote a five-volume work, calling it the Golden Mirror Records for a Thousand Years (千秋金鑑錄 -- "a thousand years" being an oblique reference to wishing the Emperor a long life, on his birthday), discussing historical examples of rulership, and offered it to Emperor Xuanzong as his gift. Emperor Xuanzong issued an edict thanking and praising him.

By 736, however, fellow chancellor Li Linfu was beginning to gain favor at the expense of Pei and Zhang, who were friendly with each other. At that time, there were several incidents for which the blunt Zhang had offended either Emperor Xuanzong—who was described to have begun to tire of governance and started seeking luxuries in earnest—or Li Linfu, who was described to be ingratiating the emperor:

• In fall 736, when Emperor Xuanzong was at Luoyang, he had set to return to Chang'an on March 7, 737. However, at that time, an incident occurred where there were strange apparitions appearing in the Luoyang Palace, and Emperor Xuanzong did not want to stay at Luoyang. On or right before November 9, 736, he summoned the chancellors to ask them whether he could depart for Chang'an immediately. Pei and Zhang, pointing out the fact that it was harvest season and that the imperial train would interfere with harvest, requested a one-month delay. After Pei and Zhang exited, however, Li Linfu remained personally and stated his agreement with the departure, arguing that the farmers could be compensated by relieving their taxes. Emperor Xuanzong was pleased and immediately departed for Chang'an.

• Emperor Xuanzong was, then, impressed with Niu Xianke, the military governor (jiedushi) of Shuofang Circuit (朔方, headquartered in modern Yinchuan, Ningxia), wanted to make him the minister of defense. Zhang, who pointed out that Niu was not well-learned and had started from the ranks of low-level administrators—contrary to the Tang tradition of going through the imperial examinations—opposed, and then further opposed the creation of a title. Eventually, despite Zhang's opposition, Emperor Xuanzong, with concurrence from Li LInfu, created Niu the Duke of Longxi.

• Li Linfu was associating with Emperor Xuanzong's favorite concubine Consort Wu and trying to have Emperor Xuanzong make her son Li Mao (李瑁) the Prince of Shou crown prince to replace Emperor Xuanzong's then-crown prince Li Ying, who had long lost Emperor Xuanzong's favor. With Zhang strenuously opposing such a move, Li Ying remained in his position.

• The deputy minister Xiao Jiong (蕭炅), whom Li Linfu recommended, was demoted on the suggestion of Zhang and Zhang's friend Yan Tingzhi, who further offended Li Linfu by refusing to meet with him. Soon thereafter, there was an incident where Wang Yunyan (王元琰), the husband of Yan's ex-wife, was accused of corruption. Yan tried to intercede on Wang's behalf, and this was discovered.

Li Linfu thus made accusations to Emperor Xuanzong that Zhang and Pei were engaging in factionalism. Around the new year 737, Emperor Xuanzong removed Pei and Zhang from their chancellor posts, making them Chengxiang (丞相) -- the heads of the executive bureau (尚書省, Shangshu Sheng) instead. Niu was made chancellor to replace them, serving with Li Linfu. This was often viewed by traditional historians as the turning point of Emperor Xuanzong's reign, which up to that point was considered a golden age in Chinese history, toward a path of degeneration. The Song Dynasty historian Sima Guang, in his Zizhi Tongjian, for example, commented:

In 737, the imperial censor Zhou Ziliang (周子諒) submitted an indictment against Niu, arguing that Niu should not be chancellor because he lacked talent to be chancellor, and further citing prophecies that appeared to indicate that someone named Niu would usurp the throne. Emperor Xuanzong was incensed, and had Zhou caned and exiled—and Zhou died shortly after departing Chang'an. Li Linfu then submitted an accusation against Zhang, pointing out that Zhang had recommended Zhou. Zhang was therefore demoted to be the secretary general at Jing Prefecture (荊州, roughly modern Jingzhou, Hubei). However, even after Zhang's demotion, Emperor Xuanzong still remembered his honesty, and when officials were recommended, he would often make the inquiry, "How does their honesty compare to Zhang Jiuling?" Zhang died in 740, while on a vacation in Shao Prefecture to visit his parents' tomb, and was given posthumous honors.

After An, then a powerful military governor (jiedushi), rebelled against Emperor Xuanzong's rule in 755, Emperor Xuanzong was, in 756, forced to flee to Jiannan Circuit (劍南道, roughly modern Sichuan and Chongqing) and pass the throne to his son Emperor Suzong. Remembering Zhang's warnings about An, issued an edict further posthumously honoring Zhang and sent messengers to Shao Prefecture to offer sacrifices to Zhang.

Poetry

Zhang Jiuling had five of his poems selected for inclusion in the famous anthology of poetry Three Hundred Tang Poems. The titles, as translated by Witter Bynner are:

• Thoughts I

• Orchid and Orange I

• Thoughts III

• Orchid and Orange II

• Looking at the Moon and Thinking of One Far Away

sentence of : 「The moon, grown full now over the sea, Brightening the whole of heaven. 」 to rank as a masterpiece throughout the ages. meaning : As the bright moon shines over the sea, from far away you share this moment with me. It is often used to describe shared network in the internet context

世系

西漢留侯張良之後，西晉壯武郡公張華十四世孫。謠傳其先曲江羅源洞土著（在嶺南有「洞」、「峒」、「溪」地名上的住民基本上都是漢化土著，雖然其族譜上不是），可能是世襲峒主之位的地方豪族。父張弘愈，官至（廣東）索盧縣丞、知新州等州事，後以九齡貴，贈太常卿、廣州都督。

生平

張九齡自幼聰敏，七歲知屬文。十三歲時（690年），王方慶接替被殺的廣州都督路元睿，途經韶州，見到他的文章後，大為嘆賞。

武曌長安二年（702年）擢進士，最初擔任調秘書省校書郎，因「謗議上聞」退職返鄉。

703年，前鳳閣舍人張說「忤旨配流欽州」，途經曲江，與張九齡通族譜，敘為昭穆（另一種說法是722年張說拜相後，但703年左右二人認識是確定的），從此張九齡自稱范陽張氏，其祖先張守禮出自東漢司空張皓、西晉司空張華（詳見張九齡本人為張說所作墓誌銘），是其曾祖張君政任韶州別駕死任上才家于曲江的，但死後則稱西漢留侯張良、西晉司空張華之後，而其弟張九皋則稱西漢張良、張安世之後。其高門的身份並不被當時的大部分人承認，包括唐玄宗。

713年，應「道侔伊呂科」舉，中高第，為左拾遺。722年，張說拜相，舉薦張九齡為司勛員外郎，723年，張說再薦張九齡為中書舍人，封曲江縣男。725年，黨爭失利，張說罷相，十幾人受牽連，包括張九齡。張九齡因此轉太常少卿，出為冀州刺史。以母老在鄉，改為洪州都督。俄轉桂州都督，仍充嶺南道按察使。

張說卒後，731年3月，玄宗召拜九齡為秘書少監、集賢院學士，副知院事。732年，為工部侍郎。733年5月，檢校中書侍郎。其年秋，丁母喪歸鄉里。12月，起複任中書侍郎同中書門下平章事。734年，遷中書令，集賢院令知院事兼修國史。曾劾安祿山野心，提醒玄宗注意。735年3月，加金紫光祿大夫，累封始興縣子。

736年秋八月天長節，玄宗生日，群臣皆獻珍罕，獨張九齡上事鑑十章以伸諷諫，號「千秋金鑑錄」，帝甚嘉美。張九齡提拔王維為右拾遺，盧象為左補闕。由于李林甫、牛仙客等人結黨，張九齡失去唐玄宗的信任，改任尚書右丞相，罷知政事。在主政期間，張九齡主張不循資格用人，為人好名不好利（李林甫剛好相反），敢于諫言，不避利害。

737年，太子李瑛被廢。同年，張九齡因所舉薦的監察御史周子諒觸怒玄宗被殺，被貶為荊州大都督府長史，召孟浩然於幕府。

738年，封始興縣伯。740年春，以「歸拜墓」名義辭官，農曆五月七日（6月5日）在家鄉曲江病逝，享年63歲，贈荊州大都督，謚曰文獻。歸葬羅源洞。

爭議

認為張九齡並非北人官宦之後。

。

元和十四年（819），即安史之亂結束後56年，歷盡艱辛又重新恢復藩鎮統制的唐憲宗（唐玄宗的五代之後）與其時的宰相崔群對玄宗朝治道的得失有一番討論。《資治通鑑》卷241《唐紀五十七》載：「乙巳，上問宰相：「玄宗之政，先理而後亂，何也？」崔群對曰：「玄宗用姚崇、宋璟、盧懷慎、蘇頲、韓休、張九齡則理，用宇文融、李林甫、楊國忠則亂。故用人得失，所繫非輕。人皆以天寶十四年安祿山反為亂之始，臣獨以為開元二十四年罷張九齡相，專任李林甫，此理亂之所分也。願陛下以開元初為法，以天寶末為戒，乃社稷無疆之福！」」而權傾朝野的皇甫鎛複深恨崔群。知國之盛衰、朝之興替，皆在使忠良得進，諫諍得聞。

弟弟

• 張九皋，宋、襄、廣三州刺史、採訪節度經略等使、曾獻方物

• 張九章，刺史、鴻臚卿

子孫

妻子：譚氏（681年～757年），循州司馬譚誨之女，麥鐵杖五世外孫女。年七十七卒，與張九齡同塋異穴。

• 長子：張拯，右贊善大夫

　• 孫：張藏器，河南府壽安尉、長水丞

　　• 曾孫：張敦慶，袁州司倉參軍

　　　• 玄孫：張景新，鄉貢進士

　　　　• 五世孫：張涓，嶺南觀察衙推

　　　　　• 六世孫：張千壽

　　　　　• 六世孫：張皓，仁化令

　　　　　　• 七世孫：張譔，生張澄真

　　　　　　• 六世孫：張諷、張謠、張詣

　　　　• 五世孫：張鄖，湖南鹽鐵判官

　　　　　• 六世孫：張鈞

　　　　　　• 七世孫：張偉，二子：張珝、張珙。珙二子：張文璉、張文智

　　　　　• 六世孫：張道興

　　　　　　• 七世孫：張繼，生張綰

　　　　　　• 七世孫：張太玄

　　　　　• 六世孫：張起，端州司戶參軍

　　　　　　• 七世孫：張維，四子：張贄、張○、張嗣宗、張居賀

　　　　　　• 七世孫：張縉，六子：張貴英、張再英、張仲英、張萬英、張韶英、張可英

　　　• 曾孫：張景重，洪州都督府參軍

　　　　• 五世孫：張○，歸善令

　　　　　• 六世孫：張廷傑

　　　　　　• 七世孫：張涉，二子：張璲、張璀。璲二子：張光敏、張光濟。璀生張文範

　　　　　　• 七世孫：張渥，生張琇，琇生張元吉

　　　　　　• 七世孫：張淪，三子：張琮、張瓊、張璨。琮二子：張乾用、張利用。瓊二子：張克柔、張克已。璨生張榮

　　　　　　• 七世孫：張沼，二子：張珽、張瑀。珽二子：張隆、張鉉。瑀生張亨

　　　　　　• 七世孫：張洪，二子：張珣、張瑛。珣生張克從。瑛四子：張錫、張祐、張休、張鑄

　　　　• 五世孫：張燿，樂昌令

　　　　　• 六世孫：張瞻，湞陽丞

　　　　　　• 七世孫：張文達

　　　　　　• 七世孫：張文曜，三子：張威、張騫、張和。威生張怡，騫生張士衡

　　　　　　• 七世孫：張文嵩，監東太倉，三子：張允恭、張允明、張化璘。允恭生張廉，允明生張士調

文學

七歲知屬文，有文名，張說稱他「後出詞人之冠」。有詩《感遇》12首，名列《唐詩三百首》第一首，和陳子昂的《感遇》38首相提並論，其中「草木有本心，何求美人折」一聯，更是他高潔情操的寫照。另外，張九齡的五言律詩情緻深婉，如：《望月懷遠》一句「海上生明月，天涯共此時」唱絕千古。

張九齡與梅關古道

開元四年（716年），張九齡辭官返回家鄉供養母親，途中看到家鄉父老翻越南嶺山脈十分艱難，決心打通南嶺，改善進出嶺南的交通。于是上奏玄宗，提出鑿山修路，得到了允許。開鑿梅關通道的工程非常艱巨，所開鑿的道路也就是現在距離南雄市區北面約30公里的梅嶺頂部的梅關驛道。

張九齡墓

張九齡的墓地在今韶關市北郊羅源洞山麓，是廣東省重點文物保護單位，是廣東省具有代表性的唐代大墓。墓室為磚室結構。墓前祠堂的對聯有多副，如「當年唐室無雙士，自古南天第一人」。

紀念

韶關市內原有紀念張九齡的風度樓，後因失火不存，原樓所在地被取名為風度路。路上臨江建有曲江園，塑有張九齡半身胸像。

注釋

參考書目

• 《舊唐書·卷99·張九齡傳》

• 《新唐書·卷126·張九齡傳》

外部鏈接