Han Yus Defense of Loyalty | Generated by AI
I’ll provide you with a comprehensive English introduction to 《张中丞传后叙》 (Postscript to the Biography of Zhang Zhongcheng).
Overview
《张中丞传后叙》 is a classical Chinese prose work written by Han Yu (韩愈, 768-824 CE), one of the greatest prose masters of the Tang Dynasty. The title translates as “Postscript to the Biography of Zhang Zhongcheng” or “Supplementary Account of Zhang Xun’s Biography.”
Historical Context
The work commemorates Zhang Xun (张巡, 709-757), whose courtesy name was Zhongcheng. Zhang was a Tang Dynasty general who became a legendary figure for his heroic defense of Suiyang (睢阳, modern-day Shangqiu in Henan Province) during the An Lushan Rebellion (755-763).
In 756-757, Zhang Xun and his fellow commander Xu Yuan (许远) defended Suiyang against vastly superior rebel forces for nearly ten months. The siege was brutal—the defenders resorted to eating tree bark, paper, and eventually even more desperate measures. Despite being outnumbered and starving, they held the city, preventing the rebels from advancing south to the Jianghuai region (江淮), the economic heartland of the Tang empire. The city eventually fell, and Zhang Xun was executed by the rebels.
Purpose and Literary Significance
Han Yu wrote this piece decades after the events, around 800 CE, as a supplement to an earlier official biography. His purposes were multiple:
- Historical correction: Han Yu felt the official biography failed to adequately capture Zhang Xun’s heroism and moral character
- Moral exemplar: To establish Zhang and Xu as models of loyalty and righteousness
- Defense against criticism: Some had criticized the defenders’ extreme actions during the siege; Han Yu vigorously defends their choices
Key Themes
Loyalty and Righteousness (忠义): The work portrays Zhang Xun as the embodiment of Confucian virtue, choosing death over surrender and maintaining loyalty to the Tang emperor despite impossible circumstances.
Heroism in Adversity: Han Yu emphasizes how the defenders’ resistance, though ultimately unsuccessful militarily, served a higher strategic purpose by buying time for the empire.
Historical Justice: Han Yu argues that Zhang Xun and his subordinates deserve proper historical recognition and vindication from unfair criticism.
The Nature of Heroism: The essay explores what constitutes true heroism—not just military success, but moral courage and self-sacrifice for a greater cause.
Literary Style
Han Yu was a leader of the 古文运动 (Classical Prose Movement), which advocated returning to the straightforward, powerful prose style of pre-Han writers rather than the ornate parallel prose (骈文) popular in his time. This work exemplifies his style:
- Direct, forceful language
- Emotional intensity and moral conviction
- Skillful narrative techniques, including vivid anecdotes
- Effective use of rhetorical questions and exclamations
- Balance between historical documentation and passionate advocacy
Structure
The essay follows a loose structure:
- Explanation of why he’s writing this supplement
- Narrative of Zhang Xun’s character and specific heroic deeds
- Defense of Zhang Xun’s reputation and actions
- Praise for subordinate heroes whose names were lost to history
- Critique of those who survived but received undeserved credit
Influence and Legacy
This work became a canonical example of biographical writing in Chinese literature. It demonstrates how historical writing can serve moral and political purposes while maintaining literary excellence. The piece has been studied for centuries as a model of:
- Passionate yet controlled prose
- Effective argumentation
- Character portrayal
- The relationship between history and moral philosophy
Han Yu’s passionate defense helped ensure that Zhang Xun would be remembered as one of China’s greatest loyal heroes, celebrated in temples and popular culture for over a millennium.
The work remains required reading in Chinese literature courses and is considered one of Han Yu’s masterpieces, showcasing his ability to blend historical narrative, moral argument, and emotional power.