Zhang Jue

Template:Short description Template:Family name hatnote Template:Infobox person Template:Taoism Zhang Jue (Template:IPAc-cmn; died Template:C. October 184<ref>Emperor Ling's biography in Book of the Later Han recorded that Zhang Liang was captured by Huangfu Song in the 10th month of the first year of the Zhongping era, and that Zhang Jue had died by then. The month corresponds to 21 Nov to 20 Dec 184 in the Julian calendar. ([中平元年]冬十月，皇甫嵩与黄巾贼战于广宗，获张角弟梁。角先死...) Houhanshu vol.08. Thus, Zhang Jue likely died in Oct 184.</ref>) was a religious leader in ancient China who became a military general and led the Yellow Turban Rebellion during the late Eastern Han dynasty of China.Template:Sfnp He had a reputation as a Taoist sorcerer capable of performing miracles, and he became extraordinarily popular. Proclaiming the government as corrupt and oppressive, he and his followers attempted to take over the capital city but was thwarted.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> His name is sometimes read as Zhang Jiao (Template:IPAc-cmn), since the Chinese character of Zhang's given name can be read as either "Jiao" or "Jue". "Jue" is the traditional or literary reading, while "Jiao" is the modern or colloquial one.

Yellow Turban Rebellion

The Yellow Turbans originated as a Taoist movement called the Tàipíng Dào or "Way of the Great Peace" (太平道), which had started well over a decade prior to the rebellion.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Zhang Jue's followers hailed him as being able to cure patients by giving them water blessed by the burning of talismans (fulu). Those who recovered then believed in him and his teachings, and his fame spread by word of mouth.<ref>(咒符水以疗病，令病者跪拜首过，或时病愈，众共神而信之。角分遣弟子周行四方，转相诳诱，十馀年间，徒众数十万，....) Zizhi Tongjian, vol.58</ref> Professor Rafe de Crespigny noted that disease outbreaks were reported in Han dynasty China in 171, 173, 179, 182, and 185 CE, with the potential cause theorized as the Antonine Plague of 165 to 180CE of smallpox or measles spreading along the Silk Road.<ref>deCrespingy, Rafe (October 27, 2016). Fire Over Luoyang: A History of the Later Han Dynasty 23-220 AD (1 ed.). Brill Publishers. pp. 388–418. ISBN 9789004325203.</ref>

Giving himself the title of "Great Teacher" (Template:Lang), Zhang Jue led the rebellion with his younger brothers Zhang Bao (Template:Lang) and Zhang Liang (Template:Lang). He and his brothers gave themselves titles: Zhang Bao was the "General of Earth" (Template:Lang), Zhang Liang was the "General of the People" (Template:Lang); and Zhang Jue was the "General of Heaven" (Template:Lang).<ref>(Template:Lang) Houhanshu vol. 71.</ref> The Yellow Turbans claimed to be Taoists, and rebelled against the Han dynasty in response to burdensome taxes, rampant corruption, and famine and flooding, which were seen as indications that the Han emperor had lost the mandate of heaven.

During this time, Zhang spoke of the magic he thought himself capable of to his followers, and "promised that if they took his medicines, they would be immune from wounds and could fight in battle without fear".<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

The rebellion began in Template:CircaMarch 184.<ref>2nd month of the 1st year of the Zhong'ping era, per Emperor Ling's biography in Book of the Later Han. The month corresponds to 29 Feb to 29 Mar 184 in the Julian calendar.</ref> The Yellow Turbans conquered significant territory in the early years of the rebellion, but after a failed siege of the capital, they could not hold out against Han imperial forces led by He Jin, Lu Zhi, Dong Zhuo, Huangfu Song, Zhu Jun and others. Zhang Jue died from sickness later in October 184.

Although the Yellow Turbans still remained capable even in face of their more powerful foe, they were nonetheless torn apart upon the death of their leader, and were eventually defeated and dispersed. Zhang Bao was defeated and killed by imperial forces led by Huangfu Song and Guo Dian (Template:Lang) in December 184 or January 185<ref>Emperor Ling's biography in Book of the Later Han recorded that Zhang Bao was killed by Huangfu Song in the 11th month of the 1st year of the Zhongping era. The month corresponds to 21 Dec 184 to 18 Jan 185. ([中平元年冬]十一月，皇甫嵩又破黄巾于下曲阳，斩张角弟宝。) Houhanshu vol.08.</ref> at Xiaquyang County (Template:Lang; west of present-day Jinzhou, Hebei),<ref>(Template:Lang) Houhanshu vol. 71.</ref> while Zhang Liang also met his end in November or December 184<ref>Emperor Ling's biography in Book of the Later Han recorded that Zhang Liang was captured by Huangfu Song in the tenth month of the first year of the Zhongping era. The month corresponds to 21 Nov to 20 Dec 184. ([中平元年]冬十月，皇甫嵩与黄巾贼战于广宗，获张角弟梁。) Houhanshu vol.08.</ref> at the hands of imperial forces led by Huangfu Song at Guangzong County (Template:Lang; southeast of present-day Guangzong County, Hebei).<ref>(Template:Lang) Houhanshu vol. 71.</ref>

Large groups of Yellow Turbans roamed through China for years after the rebellion's defeat, most of them eventually joining the army of the warlord Cao Cao, whose agrarian reform policies closely matched Zhang Jue's own programme.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

In Romance of the Three Kingdoms

Zhang Jue is also featured in the 14th-century historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms. He is introduced in Chapter 1 as follows:

Zhang Jue then goes on to start the Yellow Turban Rebellion with his brothers. Little time is devoted to Zhang Jue in the book, and his death is given a line in the second chapter: "Zhang Jue had died before his (Huangfu Song's) arrival." After his death, his body was beheaded and his head sent to the capital Luoyang.<ref>Luo Guanzhong. The Three Kingdoms. Translated by Yu Sumei. Edited by Ronald C. Iverson. Volume 1 The Sacred Oath. Tuttle, 2014. pg 24-25. Template:ISBN</ref> In the novel, his brother Zhang Bao does not die in battle against imperial forces, but meets his end at the hands of a subordinate, Yan Zheng (Template:Lang), who cuts off his head and surrenders to imperial forces.<ref>(Template:Lang) Sanguo Yanyi ch. 2.</ref>

In popular culture

Zhang Jue appears as a playable character in Koei's Dynasty Warriors and Warriors Orochi video games series, as well as serving as an antagonist in Capcom's Destiny of an Emperor for the Nintendo Entertainment System. He is referred to as "Zhang Jiao" in these games. He is also seen as one of the antagonists of the light gun shooting game SEGA Golden Gun.Template:Citation needed

In Total War: Three KingdomsTemplate:' fourth DLC installment, Mandate of Heaven, Zhang Jue and his brothers lead the playable Yellow Turban factions who seek to overthrow the failing Han dynasty and establish a new order in China.

In the action role-playing game Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty, Zhang Jue and his brothers appear as separate boss fights.

In the Japanese mobile gacha game Fate/Grand Order, Zhang Jue is a summonable character the player can use in battles. According to the game's story, Zhang Jue is a magic-user who serves an alien life form in Area 51.

See also

• Lists of people of the Three Kingdoms

References

• Chen, Shou (3rd century). Records of the Three Kingdoms (Sanguozhi).
• Template:Cite book
• Fan, Ye (5th century). Book of the Later Han (Houhanshu).
• Luo, Guanzhong (14th century). Romance of the Three Kingdoms (Sanguo Yanyi).
• Pei, Songzhi (5th century). Annotations to Records of the Three Kingdoms (Sanguozhi zhu).