Background

Zhang Yunshen was born in 785, during the reign of Emperor Dezong. He was from Fanyang, and his male-line ancestors, including his great-grandfather Zhang Xiu, grandfather Zhang Yan, and father Zhang Chaoye, all served as officers in the Lulong army. Zhang Yunshen himself also served as an officer in the Lulong army. In 850, when the military governor Zhou Lin died, the soldiers supported Zhang Yunshen to succeed Zhou, and then-reigning Emperor Xuānzong (a great-grandson of Emperor Dezong's) approved, first making Zhang acting military governor, and then full military governor later in the year.

As military governor

In 859, shortly after Emperor Xuānzong died and was succeeded by his son Emperor Yizong, Emperor Yizong bestowed on Zhang Yunshen the honorific chancellor title of Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi. In 868, he was created the Duke of Yan. In 869, when the imperial government was facing a major rebellion led by Pang Xun at Xu Prefecture (徐州, in modern Xuzhou, Jiangsu), Zhang offered to have his brother Zhang Yungao command an army to assist the imperial operations. When Emperor Yizong declined the assistance, Zhang Yunshen submitted a tribute of rice and salt to supply the troops, and Emperor Yizong issued an edict praising him for doing so. In 870, Emperor Yizong further bestowed the greater honorific chancellor title of Shizhong (侍中) on Zhang.

In 872, Zhang suffered a stroke, and he submitted a petition to yield his responsibilities so that he could attend to his medical condition. Emperor Yizong agreed and made his son Zhang Jianhui the acting military governor. Soon thereafter, Zhang Yunshen died. It was said that in his 22-year-term as military governor, Zhang was diligent and frugal, and the circuit was peaceful and did not lack anything. Most of his 14 sons later served in various Tang military offices as well.

Notes and references

• Old Book of Tang, vol. 180.

• New Book of Tang, vol. 212.

• Zizhi Tongjian, vols. 249, 252.

生平

世代為軍校，曾祖張秀，官檀州刺史。張允伸世仕幽州軍門，累官押衙，兼任馬步都知兵馬使。大中四年（850年），盧龍節度使張直方因虐待士兵被逐去，軍中立周綝為盧龍留後。大中四年，周綝死後，朝廷以張允伸為留後，後成為使相，累進檢校司徒兼太傅、同中書門下平章事。張允伸得風疾，以其子張簡會為留後。

張允伸有子十四人，其餘諸子有盧龍軍左司馬張簡真、右領軍衛大將軍張簡壽。張簡真在張允伸生前去世。

參考書目

• 《舊唐書》列傳第一百三十