Zhang Bao

Historical Record

According to the existing historical material, the record of Zhang Bao is missing. The official histories do not mention this person Zhang Bao, nor is there any record of his life, deeds, or any connection to the Yellow Turban Rebellion.

In the Novel

In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Zhang Bao is one of the leaders of the Yellow Turban Rebellion, known together with his elder brother Zhang Jue and younger brother Zhang Liang as the "Three Zhangs of the Yellow Turbans." He styled himself "General of the Earth," together with Zhang Jue's "General of Heaven" and Zhang Liang's "General of Men," forming the spiritual and military core of the Yellow Turban Army ^c:5279. In the novel, Zhang Bao is portrayed as a sorcerer able to perform black magic. In battle with Liu Bei's army, he once worked his arts to summon wind and rain, sending sand flying and stones rolling, conjuring a sky filled with black vapor, and calling up paper men and straw horses, at one point throwing Liu Bei's army into difficulty ^c:35.

However, Zhang Bao's sorcery was finally broken by Liu Bei, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and others using filth such as the blood of pigs, sheep, and dogs. In one battle, Liu Bei loosed an arrow that struck Zhang Bao's left arm, forcing him to flee wounded into Yangcheng and hold it without coming out ^c:35. After Yangcheng was besieged by an army led by Zhu Jun, the Yellow Turban Army's situation grew more critical by the day. In the end, Zhang Bao did not die at the hands of the government army but was assassinated by his own subordinate general Yan Zheng, who then presented Zhang Bao's head and surrendered to the government army. Zhang Bao's death marked the complete defeat of the Yellow Turban Army in the Yangcheng area and earned Zhu Jun the merit of pacifying several commanderies ^c:35. The novel's portrayal of Zhang Bao highlights his image as a thaumaturge, the impact the Yellow Turban Army inflicted on the government army early on through "sorcery," and at the same time displays its eventual defeat and internal collapse.

Key Relationships

* Yellow Turban Army: Zhang Bao was one of the core members of the Yellow Turban Army, who together with Zhang Jue and Zhang Liang led this large-scale peasant uprising. He was titled "General of the Earth" and held an important position and influence in the Yellow Turban Army ^c:5279. (Novel only)
* Zhang Jue: Zhang Bao's elder brother, leader of the Yellow Turban Army, who styled himself "General of Heaven" and "Great Worthy Teacher." In the uprising, Zhang Bao was Zhang Jue's capable assistant and an important general ^c:5279. (Novel only)
* Zhang Liang: Zhang Bao's younger brother, another important general of the Yellow Turban Army, who styled himself "General of Men" ^c:5279. (Novel only)
* Yan Zheng: Zhang Bao's subordinate general. When Yangcheng was besieged and the Yellow Turban Army faced a desperate situation, Yan Zheng assassinated Zhang Bao and presented his head in surrender, bringing about Zhang Bao's end ^c:35. (Novel only)

Iconic Scenes

* Styling himself "General of the Earth": When Zhang Jue launched the Yellow Turban Rebellion, Zhang Bao and Zhang Liang responded together; Zhang Jue styled himself "General of Heaven," Zhang Bao "General of the Earth," and Zhang Liang "General of Men," together leading the Yellow Turban Army ^c:5279. (Novel only)
* Working sorcery in battle with Liu Bei's army: In clashes with the armies of Liu Bei and Zhu Jun, Zhang Bao once worked his sorcery to summon wind and rain, send sand flying and stones rolling, conjure a sky filled with black vapor, and call up paper men and straw horses, at one point putting the government army on the defensive ^c:35. (Novel only)
* Sorcery broken and flight after being struck by an arrow: Zhang Bao's sorcery was finally broken by Liu Bei's army using filth; in battle he was struck in the left arm by an arrow loosed by Liu Bei and fled wounded into Yangcheng ^c:35. (Novel only)
* Assassinated by his subordinate general Yan Zheng: When Yangcheng was besieged by the government army and the Yellow Turban Army fell into a desperate plight, Zhang Bao was assassinated by his subordinate general Yan Zheng, who then presented Zhang Bao's head and surrendered ^c:35. (Novel only)