Zhang Bao

Historical Record

Zhang Bao was the eldest son of the famous Shu Han general Zhang Fei. The historical sources record relatively little about Zhang Bao, focusing mainly on his family lineage and the fact of his early death. According to the Records of the Three Kingdoms, Zhang Fei was valiant and skilled in battle, fierce and surpassing in might, of equal renown with Guan Yu, and was hailed by Wei strategists such as Cheng Yu as "a match for ten thousand men." ^c:1751 However, Zhang Fei was by nature one who "loved and respected gentlemen but had no pity for the lowly," and in the end, because he flogged his soldiers, he was killed by his own subordinate generals Zhang Da and Fan Qiang. After Zhang Fei was killed, his eldest son Zhang Bao died young and was unable to inherit his father's enterprise. His second son Zhang Shao succeeded to the title and rose to Palace Attendant and Vice Director of the Masters of Writing. Zhang Bao's son Zhang Zun rose to Master of Writing, and later, following Zhuge Zhan, fought against Deng Ai at Mianzhu, where he died valiantly in battle. ^c:1751 Thus, in the historical sources Zhang Bao appears mainly as the continuator of Zhang Fei's bloodline; his personal deeds are not recorded in detail, and it is known only that he died young, while his son Zhang Zun gave his life for the state in Shu Han's later years, carrying on the Zhang family's tradition of loyalty and valor.

In the Novel

Romance of the Three Kingdoms depicts Zhang Bao far more richly than the historical facts, endowing him with a vivid personality and many valorous deeds. He first appears after his father Zhang Fei was killed: in white robes and silver armor, he prostrated himself on the ground weeping bitterly and vowed to avenge his father. ^c:10588 At this time he appeared together with Guan Yu's son Guan Xing; the entrance of these two young generals symbolized the rise of Shu Han's second generation of commanders. Zhang Bao was bold and fierce by nature, and at his first meeting with Guan Xing he wished to test his martial skills against him over the contest for the vanguard's seal, displaying his competitive spirit. His archery was superb—he could pierce a willow leaf at a hundred paces, and shot three arrows in succession, all striking the bullseye. ^c:10590 After Liu Bei mediated, the two snapped arrows as an oath and became sworn brothers, to avenge their fathers together. ^c:1753

In the campaign against Wu, Zhang Bao fought side by side with Guan Xing and repeatedly rendered military merit. They often served as vanguards, charging into the enemy. For example, at the Battle of Yidu, Zhang Bao and Guan Xing together went out to fight Sun Huan; Zhang Bao fought Xie Jing for thirty bouts, and Xie Jing fled in defeat. He then clashed with Li Yi to an indecisive result. When Zhang Bao's horse was struck by a cold-shot arrow and fell, Guan Xing arrived in time, slew Li Yi, and rescued Zhang Bao. ^c:10596 When Zhang Bao learned that Guan Xing had gone missing, he declared, "If Anguo (Guan Xing's courtesy name) should come to harm, I will not live on alone!" ^c:10597 fully displaying his deep bond of brotherhood. He stabbed Xie Jing to death, ^c:10597 captured Cui Yu alive, ^c:1755 and in the confrontation with Han Dang and Zhou Tai stabbed Xia Xun to death with a single thrust of his spear, joining Guan Xing in crushing the Wu army, which made Liu Bei exclaim, "A fierce father has no weakling sons!" ^c:1757

During Zhuge Liang's Northern Expeditions, Zhang Bao remained active. He and Guan Xing together followed Zhao Yun to break a siege, slaying the Wei general Xue Ze. ^c:1761 In taking the city of Anding, he saw through Cui Liang's ruse and stabbed Cui Liang to death with a single spear thrust. ^c:1762 In the fighting against the Qiang troops, Zhang Bao and Guan Xing encountered the iron-chariot formation; when Guan Xing was once surrounded, Zhang Bao arrived at the critical moment, claiming that it was Lord Guan's manifest spirit that had guided him to come to the rescue. ^c:1763 However, near the end of Zhuge Liang's First Northern Expedition, as Zhuge Liang withdrew, Zhang Bao, pursuing Guo Huai and Sun Li too hastily, plunged with man and horse into a ravine, suffered a head injury, and was sent back to Chengdu to recuperate. ^c:1765 After this Zhang Bao no longer appears in the novel, implying that his wounds proved fatal or that he died young, consistent with the historical record of his "early death."

Key Relationships

* Zhang Fei (father): Zhang Bao was Zhang Fei's eldest son and inherited his father's valor. In the novel, avenging his father is the important motive for Zhang Bao's entrance. ^c:10588
* Guan Xing (sworn brother): Zhang Bao and Guan Xing were the sons of Liu Bei's sworn brothers; at Liu Bei's prompting the two became sworn brothers, vowing to share life and death and to avenge their fathers together. ^c:1753 They fought side by side on the battlefield, as close as true brothers; Zhang Bao once declared, "If Anguo (Guan Xing) should come to harm, I will not live on alone." ^c:10597 (unique to the novel)
* Liu Bei (sovereign/uncle): Zhang Bao was Liu Bei's nephew and was highly valued by him. Liu Bei once exclaimed of him, "A fierce father has no weakling sons!" ^c:1757
* Zhang Zun (son): Zhang Bao's son; the historical sources record that he rose to Master of Writing and died in battle at Mianzhu following Zhuge Zhan. ^c:1751
* Zhuge Liang (Chancellor): During the Northern Expeditions, Zhang Bao followed Zhuge Liang's orders and was an important general under his command. ^c:1761

Iconic Scenes

* Avenging his father, first showing his mettle: After Zhang Fei was killed, Zhang Bao, in white robes and silver armor, prostrated himself weeping and vowed to avenge his father, and contended with Guan Xing for the vanguard's seal, displaying his valor and filial devotion. ^c:10588 (unique to the novel)
* Snapping arrows as an oath, deep brotherly bond: At Liu Bei's mediation, Zhang Bao and Guan Xing snapped arrows as an oath and became sworn brothers to avenge their fathers together, and thereafter were inseparable on the battlefield, supporting each other. ^c:1753 (unique to the novel)
* Battle of Yidu, rescuing Guan Xing from peril: In the fighting against Sun Huan, Zhang Bao's horse was struck by an arrow and fell, and Guan Xing arrived in time to rescue him. Zhang Bao then found Guan Xing amid the melee and learned that Guan Xing had captured alive Tan Xiong, who had loosed the cold-shot arrow, displaying the rapport and bond between the brothers. ^{c:10596 c:10597} (unique to the novel)
* Stabbing Xia Xun, Liu Bei exclaiming "A fierce father has no weakling sons": During Liu Bei's campaign against Wu, Zhang Bao stabbed the Wu general Xia Xun to death before the lines and, together with Guan Xing, crushed the Wu army, winning Liu Bei's great praise. ^c:1757 (unique to the novel)
* Following the Northern Expedition army, plunging into a ravine: During Zhuge Liang's First Northern Expedition, Zhang Bao campaigned with the army, but while pursuing the Wei generals Guo Huai and Sun Li, in his haste he plunged with man and horse into a ravine and suffered a head injury, after which he no longer appears. ^c:1765 (unique to the novel)