张

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Zhang Yizhi张易之

TangHistory × Fiction

A favorite minister of Empress Wu Zetian, who plotted rebellion with his younger brother Changzong and was executed.

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DIRECT FIGURES
20
RELATION RECORDS
26
SOURCE WORKS
3

RELATIONSHIP COMPASS

Zhang Yizhi, and the people around them.

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

01
KINSHIP

Kinship

Blood, marriage and sworn bonds

3 figures · 3 records
02
ALLEGIANCE

Allegiance

Rulers, appointments and allegiance

3 figures · 4 records
03
CONFLICT

Conflict

Battles, captures and defeat

16 figures · 18 records
11 more in the complete record
04
THE UNSEEN

Mythic acts

Transformation, aid and divine punishment

1 figure · 1 record
Complete relationships and verbatim sources ↓Open in the civilization atlas ↗

12 key relationships are shown here. The complete record remains below.

In history · Old Book of Tang

A favorite minister of Empress Wu Zetian, who plotted rebellion with his younger brother Changzong and was executed. He was a grandnephew of Zhang Xingcheng, and was later killed. He was executed when Emperor Zhongzong was restored.

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

Brother of Zhang Changzong, recommended to the Empress Dowager. A favorite minister of the Empress Dowager, participated in poetry gatherings. A male favorite of Wu Zetian, killed by Zhang Jianzhi and others.

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

    38 profile notes
    19 relations34 verified quotations
    • Wu Zetian→ favor →Zhang Yizhi
    • Zhang Yizhi→ petition →Wu Zetian
    • Zhang Yizhi→ frame →Zhang Yue
    • Yang Guozhong→ nephew-uncle →Zhang Yizhi
    Verified original text · 34
    1. 则天春秋高，政事多委易之兄弟

      favor · Old Book of Tang, 于志宁高季辅张行成传

    2. 后张易之兄弟有内嬖

      favor · Old Book of Tang, 五行志

    32 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.

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  2. Literature / legend

    Romance of Sui and Tang

    4 profile notes
    3 relations3 verified quotations
    • Wu Zetian→ favor →Zhang Yizhi
    • Wu Sansi→ serve →Zhang Yizhi
    • Zhang Jianzhi→ kill →Zhang Yizhi
    Verified original text · 3
    1. 道：“五郎之言甚善

      favorite minister · Romance of Sui and Tang, 074

    2. 遂荐昌宗兄弟于太后

      recommend · Romance of Sui and Tang, 072

    1 more verified quotation in the relationship records below.

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  3. Official history

    New Book of Tang

    30 profile notes
    15 relations16 verified quotations
    • Wu Zetian→ favor →Zhang Yizhi
    • Zhang Yizhi→ petition →Wu Zetian
    • Zhang Yizhi→ rebel →Wu Zetian
    • Wu Zetian→ favor →Zhang Yizhi
    Verified original text · 16
    1. 易之司卫少卿

      appoint official · 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

    2. 兄弟皆幸，出入禁中

      serve · 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

    14 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.

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History vs. fiction

In the official history, the Zhang Yizhi brothers, relying on imperial favor, disrupted governance and were ultimately executed in the Shenlong Coup. The novel faithfully depicts their fate.

  • attestedZhang Yizhi's monopoly of power and execution in the Shenlong Coup

    The Old Book of Tang, Annals of Zhongzong and Ruizong, records that in the first year of Shenlong, Zhang Jianzhi, Huan Yanfan, and others 'led the imperial guards to kill Yizhi and Changzong, and welcomed the Crown Prince to supervise the state.' In Chapter 75 of Romance of the Sui and Tang Dynasties, Zhang Jianzhi and others behead the two Zhangs and restore Emperor Zhongzong, 'then presented the heads of Zhang Changzong and Zhang Yizhi for verification, after which all officials offered congratulations and restored the national title to Tang.' The punishment and execution are completely consistent with the official history.

Relationship network

21 figures · 107 links
Zhang YizhiZhang YizhiWu ZetianWu ZetianZhang YueZhang YueYang GuozhongYang GuozhongSong JingSong JingPrincess TaipingPrincess TaipingWu SansiWu SansiLai JunchenLai JunchenYao ChongYao ChongWei YuanzhongWei YuanzhongZhang ChangzongZhang ChangzongLi QiaoHuan YanfanZhang JianzhiJing HuiXue JiEmpress WeiWei AnshiTang XiujingLi DuozuoCrown Prince
historyliteraturedual
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Sources: New Book of Tang, 三宗诸子传; Old Book of Tang, 中宗睿宗本纪; Romance of Sui and Tang, 072; New Book of Tang, 二王韦陆二李杜传; Old Book of Tang, 于志宁高季辅张行成传; Romance of Sui and Tang, 074; 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, 五行志

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.