Zhang Bu 張布

Contents

Introduction

Zhang Bu (張布) was an Eastern Wu general and minister. When Sun Xiu was Prince of Langye (会稽王), Zhang Bu served as his Left and Right Supervising General (左右督將). In 258 Sun Lin set up Sun Xiu as emperor; as Colonel of the Long River (長水校尉) Zhang Bu had “assisted with toil” and was made General Who Supports Righteousness (輔義將軍) and Marquis of Yongkang (永康侯). Sun Xiu feared Sun Lin’s designs and secretly plotted with Ding Feng and Zhang Bu. At the twelfth-month court assembly they had Sun Lin seized and executed. Zhang Bu was named Left General (左將軍), granted authority to “punish the treacherous,” and made Supervisor of the Central Army (中軍督); his brother Zhang Dun was enfeoffed Marquis of Duting with three hundred troops, and Zhang Xun became a Colonel. In 262 Sun Xiu gave Zhang Bu and the Chancellor Puyang Xing charge of affairs: Zhang Bu managed the palace (布典宮省), Puyang Xing military and state matters. After Sun Xiu’s death (264), the Left Commandant (左典軍) Wan Yu recommended Sun Hao; Puyang Xing and Zhang Bu persuaded Empress Zhu and joined in welcoming Sun Hao. Zhang Bu was made General of Agile Cavalry (驃騎將軍) and Palace Attendant (侍中). When Sun Hao proved violent and dissolute, both “secretly regretted” the choice; Wan Yu reported them. In the eleventh month of 264 they were arrested, exiled to Guangzhou, and killed on the road; their families were exterminated. The Jiangbiao zhuan records that Sun Hao later took Zhang Bu’s daughters into the palace; one was killed when she called her father’s killers “bandits,” another (married to Feng Chun) was taken as Left Lady and heavily favoured until her death.

Biography

Under Sun Xiu: rise and coup

Zhang Bu had been Left and Right Supervising General under Sun Xiu when the latter was Prince of Langye in Kuaiji, so when Sun Xiu became emperor the two had old ties. In the first year of Yongan (258), the Colonel of the Long River Zhang Bu was rewarded for “assisting with toil” as General Who Supports Righteousness and Marquis of Yongkang.

Sun Xiu learned of Sun Lin’s rebellious plans and plotted secretly with Zhang Bu and Ding Feng. On lari day in the twelfth month (戊辰臘), at the assembly, the court was ordered to bind Sun Lin; he was executed that day. The next day Zhang Bu was charged with punishing the treacherous minister and made Supervisor of the Central Army; his brother Zhang Dun was enfeoffed Marquis of Duting with three hundred men, and Zhang Xun was made Colonel.

Power with Puyang Xing and succession

In Yongan 5 (262) winter, Sun Xiu put affairs in the hands of the Chancellor Puyang Xing and the Left General Zhang Bu because of their old service: Zhang Bu was put in charge of the palace (布典宮省), Puyang Xing military and state matters (興關軍國).

When Sun Xiu died (264), Shu had just fallen and Jiao Province was in revolt; the court wanted an older ruler. Wan Yu had often recommended Sun Hao to Puyang Xing and Zhang Bu. They persuaded Empress Zhu; she agreed. They welcomed Sun Hao with Ding Feng and others. In the eighth month of Yuanxing 1 (264), Zhang Bu was made General of Agile Cavalry and Palace Attendant.

Fall and death (264)

Sun Hao soon showed himself “violent, arrogant, many taboos, fond of wine and women.” Puyang Xing and Zhang Bu “secretly regretted” supporting him. Wan Yu accused them. In the eleventh month, on the first day of the month, they entered court and were seized, exiled to Guangzhou, and killed on the road; their families were wiped out.

Personality and traits

The Sanguo zhi states that with Puyang Xing, Zhang Bu “echoed each other” and “the realm was disappointed.” Chen Shou groups him with Puyang Xing as having accepted Wan Yu’s recommendation and deserving execution.

Political achievements

Colonel of the Long River; General Who Supports Righteousness, Marquis of Yongkang (258); role in Sun Lin’s fall; Left General, Supervisor of the Central Army; charge of the palace under Sun Xiu (262); role in Sun Hao’s accession; General of Agile Cavalry, Palace Attendant (264); then arrest, exile, and execution (264).

Relationships

Puyang Xing

With Puyang Xing, Zhang Bu held power under Sun Xiu and agreed to install Sun Hao; both regretted it and were executed together.

Sun Xiu

Zhang Bu had served Sun Xiu as prince and helped remove Sun Lin; Sun Xiu entrusted him with the palace.

Wan Yu

Wan Yu persuaded Zhang Bu and Puyang Xing to back Sun Hao; after accession he accused them of regret, leading to their execution.

Anecdotes and allusions

Zhang Bu’s daughters (Jiangbiao zhuan)

After killing Zhang Bu, Sun Hao took his younger daughter as a Beauty (美人) and favoured her. He asked her where her father was; she replied “killed by bandits.” Sun Hao was angry and had her beaten to death. Later he missed her looks and had craftsmen carve a wooden image to place by his seat. He asked if Zhang Bu had another daughter; told the elder had married Feng Chun (馮純), son of the former Minister of the Guard Feng Chao (馮朝), he seized her and made her Left Lady (左夫人), favouring her day and night and neglecting government. When she died he buried her lavishly in the park and mourned inside for half a year.

Source: Sanguo zhi (三国志·妃嫔传) Pei Songzhi citing Jiangbiao zhuan (江表傳)
Type: Historical

Achievements

Documented: coup against Sun Lin (258); Left General, Supervisor of the Central Army; palace authority (262); role in Sun Hao’s accession; General of Agile Cavalry, Palace Attendant (264); execution (264).

Behind the scenes

Historical sources

Zhang Bu appears in the Records of the Three Kingdoms (三國志) in the annals of Sun Xiu and Sun Hao (scroll 48), in the “Biographies of Zhuge Ke, Teng Yin, Sun Jun, Sun Lin, and Puyang Xing” (scroll 64), and in the Jiangbiao zhuan (on his daughters).

Romance of the Three Kingdoms

In chapter 120, after Sun Xiu’s death Wan Yu and Zhang Bu argue for Sun Hao over the heir; later Sun Hao grows cruel and indulges in drink and women; when Puyang Xing and Zhang Bu remonstrate, Sun Hao has them executed and their clans wiped out.

Legacy

Zhang Bu is remembered as the Eastern Wu general who helped remove Sun Lin, shared power with Puyang Xing under Sun Xiu, backed Sun Hao’s enthronement, and was killed by Sun Hao together with Puyang Xing when they regretted it.

References

Chen Shou. Records of the Three Kingdoms (三国志), annals of Sun Xiu and Sun Hao (三嗣主傳).
Chen Shou. Records of the Three Kingdoms, “Biographies of Zhuge Ke, Teng Yin, Sun Jun, Sun Lin, and Puyang Xing” (諸葛滕二孫濮陽傳).
Pei Songzhi. Commentary citing Jiangbiao zhuan (江表傳).