Zhang Fan

Historical Record

Zhang Fan, courtesy name Gongyi, was a native of Xiuwu in Henei. ^c:1769 His grandfather Zhang Xin had served as Minister over the Masses of the Han, and his father Zhang Yan had risen to Grand Commandant. The Grand Tutor Yuan Wei once wished to give his daughter in marriage to Zhang Fan, but Zhang Fan declined and did not accept. He was by nature calm and content with the Way, caring little for fame and profit; the court repeatedly summoned him to office, but he never answered the summons. ^c:1769

Zhang Fan's younger brother Zhang Cheng, courtesy name Gongxian, was likewise widely renowned, and was summoned on account of his reputation for uprightness, appointed a Court Gentleman for Consultation, and later promoted to Commandant of Yique. When Dong Zhuo wreaked havoc, Zhang Cheng once intended to gather the people and, together with the righteous men of the realm, campaign against Dong Zhuo. However, at that time his younger brother Zhang Zhao, then a Court Gentleman for Consultation, happened to return from Chang'an and dissuaded Zhang Cheng, saying: "To seek now to destroy Dong Zhuo—our few cannot match his many. Moreover, raising troops in haste, with the people untrained and the soldiers unskilled, makes success difficult. Though Dong Zhuo holds power by force, his conduct is without righteousness and he surely cannot last long. Better to choose to attach ourselves to an enlightened lord, and act when the time is ripe—then we may achieve our wish." Zhang Cheng heeded Zhang Zhao's advice, and so he untied the cords of his official seal, quietly returned home, and together with Zhang Fan took refuge in Yang Province. ^c:1769

Yuan Shu once tried to recruit Zhang Fan with rich gifts, but Zhang Fan declined on the pretext of illness, and Yuan Shu did not press him. Yuan Shu turned instead to sending for Zhang Cheng to meet him. Yuan Shu asked Zhang Cheng: "Of old, when the house of Zhou declined, there arose the hegemonic enterprises of Duke Huan of Qi and Duke Wen of Jin; when the Qin lost its governance, the Han followed and took it up. Now I possess vast lands and a numerous people, and wish to emulate Duke Huan of Qi and follow the High Ancestor of Han—what think you?" Zhang Cheng replied: "Success or failure rests on virtue, not on strength. If one can win the hearts of the realm by virtue, then even with the resources of a common man one may accomplish the achievement of a hegemon-king—this is no hard thing. But if one merely usurps and acts recklessly, moving against the times and being cast off by the multitude, who then could make him flourish?" Yuan Shu was displeased to hear this. At that time, Cao Cao was preparing to campaign against Jizhou, and Yuan Shu again asked Zhang Cheng: "Now Lord Cao wishes, with a few thousand weary troops, to oppose a host of a hundred thousand—this may be called overestimating his own strength! What do you think?" Zhang Cheng answered: "Though the virtue of Han has waned, the Mandate of Heaven has not yet changed. Now Lord Cao upholds the Son of Heaven to command the realm; even against a host of a million it may be done." Yuan Shu's expression changed and he was much displeased, and Zhang Cheng thereupon departed. ^c:1769

After Cao Cao pacified Jizhou, he sent an envoy to welcome Zhang Fan. Zhang Fan, being ill, stayed at Pengcheng and sent Zhang Cheng to pay his respects to Cao Cao. Cao Cao memorialized to appoint Zhang Cheng a Grandee of Remonstrance. ^c:1770

Zhang Fan's son Zhang Ling and Zhang Cheng's son Zhang Jian were once captured by bandits from Shandong. Zhang Fan went in person to the bandits' camp to ask for the return of the two boys, and the bandits returned Zhang Ling to him. Zhang Fan, however, declined, saying: "You gentlemen have returned my son to me—this kindness is weighty. But while it is human nature to love one's own son, I take greater pity on the young Zhang Jian; allow me to exchange Zhang Ling to ransom back Zhang Jian." The bandits admired his words and so returned both children to Zhang Fan. ^c:1770

After Cao Cao returned from Jing Province, Zhang Fan was able to meet him at Chen, was appointed a Court Gentleman for Consultation, and took part in the Chancellor's military affairs, deeply respected by Cao Cao. Whenever Cao Cao went on campaign, he often had Zhang Fan and Bing Yuan remain behind, guarding the rear together with the Heir Apparent Cao Pi. Cao Cao once said to Cao Pi: "In all your undertakings, you must consult these two men." Cao Pi treated Zhang Fan and Bing Yuan with the courtesy due to elder kin. Zhang Fan relieved the poor and destitute, keeping no surplus wealth at home, and the orphaned and widowed, within and without, all came to attach themselves to him. He accepted others' gifts but in the end never used them, and when he departed he would return them all in full. ^c:1770

In the seventeenth year of Jian'an (212 CE), Zhang Fan died. When the state of Wei was first established, Zhang Cheng, as Libationer of the Chancellor's Army, held concurrently the post of Administrator of Zhao Commandery, and his governance and instruction prevailed widely. When Cao Cao was about to campaign westward, he summoned Zhang Cheng to take part in military affairs, but Zhang Cheng fell ill and died after reaching Chang'an. ^c:1770

In the Novel

Romance of the Three Kingdoms does not give Zhang Fan any independent literary portrayal; his deeds and image are not recorded or mentioned in detail in the novel. Thus, in the novel Zhang Fan's image is absent: his life and deeds, his character, and his interactions with powers such as Cao-Wei are not incorporated into the narrative framework of the novel. Compared with the vivid character of the historical biographies, where he was "calm and content with the Way, indifferent to glory and profit," ^c:1769 Zhang Fan's presence in the novel is almost nil, with no recorded dialogue or episode.

Key Relationships

* Zhang Cheng (Sibling_of): Zhang Fan's younger brother; the two took refuge together in Yang Province, and Zhang Cheng once met Yuan Shu on his brother's behalf and affirmed Cao Cao's actions. ^c:1769
* Cao Wei (Serves): After Cao Cao pacified Jizhou, Zhang Fan was summoned; though he declined on the pretext of illness, his brother Zhang Cheng took office in his stead. Later Zhang Fan himself was respected by Cao Cao, took part in the Chancellor's military affairs, and remained behind together with Bing Yuan to assist the Heir Apparent Cao Pi. ^c:1770
* Zhang Ling (Parent_of): Zhang Fan's son; he was once captured by bandits together with Zhang Cheng's son, and Zhang Fan's fatherly love and righteousness moved the bandits, so that his son was returned. ^c:1770
* Bing Yuan (Friend_of): Whenever Cao Cao went on campaign, he often had Zhang Fan and Bing Yuan remain behind together to assist the Heir Apparent Cao Pi, showing that the two were close and equally trusted by Cao Cao. ^c:1770

Iconic Scenes

* Declining Yuan Wei's marriage proposal: The Grand Tutor Yuan Wei wished to marry his daughter to Zhang Fan, but Zhang Fan, by nature calm and content with the Way and uninterested in wealth and rank, declined this match, displaying his character of indifference to glory and profit. ^c:1769
* Taking refuge in Yang Province and refusing Yuan Shu: After Dong Zhuo wreaked havoc, Zhang Fan and his brother Zhang Cheng took refuge together in Yang Province. Yuan Shu tried to recruit Zhang Fan with rich gifts, but Zhang Fan declined on the pretext of illness, and Yuan Shu did not press him, showing Zhang Fan's detached attitude of unwillingness to be drawn into the strife of a chaotic age. ^c:1769
* Exchanging son for nephew, showing righteousness: Zhang Fan's son Zhang Ling and Zhang Cheng's son Zhang Jian were captured by bandits. Zhang Fan went in person to the bandits' camp and asked to exchange his own son Zhang Ling to ransom back his young nephew Zhang Jian; his righteous act moved the bandits, and in the end both children were released. This episode fully embodies Zhang Fan's noble character of "relieving the poor and destitute, keeping no surplus at home," ^c:1770 and his spirit of love that transcended blood ties.