Zhang Wen

Zhang Wen may refer to:

See also

Zhang Wen (Han dynasty)

Zhang Wen (died 191) served as Minister of Works during the Eastern Han Dynasty. He was, at one point, the superior of Dong Zhuo and Sun Jian when he served as the commander of the Han army against the Liang Province Rebellion.

In fiction

In Luo Guanzhong's historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Zhang Wen was murdered by Lü Bu at a dinner party with many officials present. Lü Bu was the adopted son of the tyrannical warlord Dong Zhuo, who ordered Lü Bu to take Zhang Wen away from the assembly, sever his head, and bring it back on a silver platter to show the other guests. Dong Zhuo then announced to the other officials that a letter had been discovered from Zhang Wen to Yuan Shu, one of Dong Zhuo's rival warlords, in which Zhang Wen had been collaborating against him. Dong Zhuo told the rest of the assembly not to worry as none of them had been implicated in the letter.

See also

Zhang Wen (Three Kingdoms)

Zhang Wen (193–230),courtesy name Huishu, was an official of the state of Eastern Wu in the Three Kingdoms period.

Family background and early career

Zhang Wen was from Wu County (吳縣), Wu Commandery (吳郡), which is in present-day Suzhou, Jiangsu. His father Zhang Yun (張允) was famous in Wu Commandery for valuing friendship and having a low regard for material wealth. Zhang Yun also served as an "Official in the East Bureau" (東曹掾) under the warlord Sun Quan, who became the founding emperor of Eastern Wu later. At a young age, Zhang Wen was already known for his good moral conduct and for having a dignified appearance. When Sun Quan heard about him, he asked his subjects, "As of now, who is Zhang Wen comparable to?" Liu Ji (劉基), the Finance Minister (大司農), said, "He is comparable to Quan Cong." However, Gu Yong, the Ceremonies Minister (太常), had a different opinion, "Liu Ji doesn't know him well enough. No one is comparable to Zhang Wen as of now." Sun Quan said, "If it is so, Zhang Yun must be still alive." When Zhang Wen was summoned to the Wu court to meet Sun Quan and his subjects, he impressed them with his demeanour and his eloquent responses to their questions. As he was about to leave, Zhang Zhao held his hand and said, "I entrust my plans to you. You should understand what I mean." Zhang Wen was then appointed as a Consultant (議郎) and "Secretary in the Selection Bureau" (選曹尚書). He was promoted to "Crown Prince's Tutor" (太子太傅) later and was highly regarded by Sun Quan.