Zhang Nan (Three Kingdoms) Explained

Zhang Nan
Chinese: 張南
Death Date:222
Death Place:Yidu County or Changyang County, Hubei
Occupation:Military officer
Other Names:Wenjin (Chinese: 文進)

Zhang Nan (; died 222 A.D.), courtesy name Wenjin (Chinese: 文進), was a military officer of the state of Shu Han in the Three Kingdoms period of China.

Life

Zhang Nan was originally from Jing Province (covering present-day Hubei and Hunan). He served as a military officer under Liu Bei, the founding emperor of the state of Shu Han in the Three Kingdoms era, and accompanied him to Yi Province (covering present-day Sichuan and Chongqing) in the early 210s.[1]

In 221, Liu Bei attacked his former ally, Sun Quan (the founding emperor of Eastern Wu), after the latter broke their alliance and seized his territories in Jing Province and executed his general Guan Yu. Zhang Nan participated in this campaign, which led to the Battle of Xiaoting (or Battle of Yiling) of 221–222, and was appointed as the Vanguard (Chinese: 前部督) of the Shu army. In the summer of 222, Sun Quan's forces, led by Lu Xun, suddenly launched a counter-attack after about six months of stalemate since the beginning of 222.[2] Zhang Nan was killed in action.[3]

The Shu official Yang Xi praised Zhang Nan for his courage and mentioned that he faced the same fate as Feng Xi.[4]

See also

References

Notes and References

  1. (Chinese: 文進名南,亦自荊州隨先主入蜀,領兵從先主征吳,與習俱死。) Sanguozhi, Vol. 45.
  2. (Chinese: 漢人自巫峽建平連營至夷陵界,立數十屯,以馮習為大督,張南為前部督,自正月與吳相拒,至六月不決。) Zizhi Tongjian, Vol. 69.
  3. (Chinese: 初,先主忿孫權之襲關羽,將東征,秋七月,遂帥諸軍伐吳。 ... 後十餘日,陸議大破先主軍於猇亭,將軍馮習、張南等皆沒。) Sanguozhi, Vol. 32.
  4. (... Chinese: 文進奮身,同此顛沛, ...) Sanguozhi, Vol. 45.