张

CIVILIZATION DOSSIER

Zhang Yue张说

TangHistory × Fiction

Zhang Yue, a minister of the Tang Dynasty, was enfeoffed as Duke of Yan. In his early years, he served as a drafter in the Phoenix Pavilion. He was exiled for refusing to falsely testify against Wei Yuanzhong. Later, he presented a sword to urge Emperor Xuanzong to make a decision, but was demoted for privately associating with Prince Qi. He served as a scholar of the Jixian Academy, regretted writing a tombstone inscription for Yao Chong, and later suggested recruiting the Guōqí soldiers. He died afterwards.

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DIRECT FIGURES
35
RELATION RECORDS
51
SOURCE WORKS
3

RELATIONSHIP COMPASS

Zhang Yue, and the people around them.

Open one chapter at a time. Each chapter gives the relationship first, then the source text behind it.

01
MENTORSHIP

Mentorship

Teachers, disciples and transmission

2 figures · 2 records
02
KINSHIP

Kinship

Blood, marriage and sworn bonds

1 figure · 1 record
03
ALLEGIANCE

Allegiance

Rulers, appointments and allegiance

12 figures · 13 records
9 more in the complete record
04
CONFLICT

Conflict

Battles, captures and defeat

12 figures · 14 records
9 more in the complete record
05
THE UNSEEN

Mythic acts

Transformation, aid and divine punishment

9 figures · 10 records
6 more in the complete record
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In history · Old Book of Tang

He was a vice director of the Secretariat, then a vice minister of War. As a literary scholar, he participated in compiling works, but was later exiled due to slander by Zhang Yizhi. He became a director of the Secretariat and discussed military affairs with Guangting.

In fiction · New Book of Tang · Romance of Sui and Tang

He was a drafter in the Phoenix Pavilion, later becoming the tutor of Longji, the third son of Ruizong. He was exiled for refusing to falsely testify against Wei Yuanzhong. As a Tang minister, he once presented a sword to urge Emperor Xuanzong to decide, and was later demoted for privately associating with Prince Qi. As a scholar of the Jixian Academy, he received precious gifts to write a tombstone inscription for Yao Chong, but later regretted it.

Across source works

How this figure changes across texts

Works are shown side by side, not as a chronology. No influence between texts is inferred.

  1. Official history

    Old Book of Tang

    57 profile notes
    17 relations26 verified quotations
    • Zhang Yue→ appoint →Emperor Xuanzong of Tang
    • Emperor Xuanzong of Tang→ appoint →Zhang Yue
    • Zhang Yue→ offer sword →Emperor Xuanzong of Tang
    • Zhang Yue→ memorialize →Li Shimin
    Verified original text · 26
    1. 刘幽求、张说于马前谏曰

      advise stop · Old Book of Tang, 刘幽求锺绍京郭元振张说传

    2. 尚书左丞张说为检校中书令

      appoint · Old Book of Tang, 玄宗本纪上

    24 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.

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  2. Literature / legend

    Romance of Sui and Tang

    7 profile notes
    7 relations7 verified quotations
    • Emperor Suzong of Tang→ grateful →Zhang Yue
    • Zhang Yue→ remonstrate →Emperor Ruizong
    • Zhang Yue→ offer sword →Li Longji
    • Li Longji→ demote →Zhang Yue
    Verified original text · 7
    1. 肃宗极感张说之恩

      grateful · Romance of Sui and Tang, 099

    2. 此必奸人造言

      remonstrate · Romance of Sui and Tang, 078

    5 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.

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  3. Official history

    New Book of Tang

    61 profile notes
    29 relations37 verified quotations
    • Zhang Yue→ appoint →Emperor Xuanzong of Tang
    • Emperor Xuanzong of Tang→ appoint →Zhang Yue
    • Zhang Yue→ offer sword →Emperor Xuanzong of Tang
    • Emperor Xuanzong of Tang→ dismiss chancellor →Zhang Yue
    Verified original text · 37
    1. 贬张说为相州刺史

      demote · New Book of Tang, 睿宗玄宗本纪

    2. 张说兼中书令

      appoint · New Book of Tang, 睿宗玄宗本纪

    35 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.

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History vs. fiction

In the official history, Zhang Shuo spoke out boldly in court to refuse framing the innocent and offered a sword to urge a decision; the novel faithfully adopted these two episodes.

  • attestedZhang Shuo refused to frame Wei Yuanzhong and secretly offered a sword

    The Old Book of Tang, Biographies of Liu Youqiu, Zhong Shaojing, Guo Yuanzhen, and Zhang Shuo, records that Zhang Changzong slandered Wei Yuanzhong, and Zhang Shuo, in front of the emperor, 'loudly declared that Yuanzhong was truly not rebellious, and that this was a false accusation by Yi Zhi,' and was consequently exiled to Qinzhou. Later, learning of Princess Taiping's conspiracy, 'he then sent an envoy to offer a sword to Emperor Xuanzong, requesting to punish her before the event.' In chapters 75 and 78 of the Romance of the Sui and Tang Dynasties, Zhang Shuo's courtroom defense and secret offering of the sword are both faithfully based on the historical biography.

Relationship network

36 figures · 241 links
Zhang YueZhang YueEmperor Xuanzong of TangEmperor Xuanzong of TangLi ShiminLi ShiminWu ZetianWu ZetianEmperor Suzong of TangEmperor Suzong of TangEmperor Zhongzong of TangEmperor Zhongzong of TangLi LinfuLi LinfuWu HouWu HouEmperor RuizongEmperor RuizongSong JingSong JingPrincess TaipingPrincess TaipingLiu YanZhang YizhiLi LongjiYao ChongLi MiZhang JiulingWei YuanzhongGao LishiCui ShiLi QiaoFang GuanYuwen RongSu TingLiu YouqiuYuan QianyaoWang JunHan XiuXue JiZhang JiazhenPei GuangtingKing PingZhang JiWang XiaojieWei ShuZhao Yanzhao
historyliteraturedual
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Sources: New Book of Tang, 于志宁曾孙 休烈四世孙 敖附 庞严五世孙 琮高冯张行成族子 易之 昌宗传; Old Book of Tang, 中宗睿宗本纪; Romance of Sui and Tang, 075; New Book of Tang, 儒学传下; Old Book of Tang, 于志宁高季辅张行成传; Romance of Sui and Tang, 078; New Book of Tang, 儒学传中; Old Book of Tang, 刘仁轨郝处俊裴行俭传

This page was extracted from classical texts with AI assistance and revised; errors remain possible. Spotted a mistake? Tell us →

Compiled with AI assistance from public-domain texts; for cultural reference. Mythological accounts vary — corrections welcome.