| NAME | |
|---|---|
| Chinese Name | 张鲁, 張魯, Zhāng Lǔ |
| Other name | Trương Lỗ Công Kỳ |
| Courtesy name | 公祺, 公祺, Gōngqí, Gong Qi, tự Công Kỳ |
| INFORMATION | |
| Birth Place | Feng County, Pei Commandery (沛国丰县; huyện Phong, quận Bái) |
| Died | 216 |
| Death Reason | Died of illness in 216 AD after surrendering to Cao Cao (曹操, Tào Tháo) |
| FAMILY | |
| Father | |
| Spouse | |
| Relatives | |
| CAREER | |
| Allegiance | Liu Yan's Forces, Zhang Lu's Forces, Wei |
| Battles | Hanzhong |
| Items |  |
Here is the exhaustive biography, ancestral background, historical records, and Romance of the Three Kingdoms narrative for Zhang Lu (張魯) (d. 216 AD), a prominent Taoist leader of the Way of the Five Pecks of Rice, sovereign of Hanzhong, and later an officer of Wei during the late Eastern Han Dynasty.
Background & Establishment of Hanzhong State
Zhang Lu was a native of Pei Commandery and the grandson of Zhang Daoling, the founder of the Way of the Celestial Masters (Five Pecks of Rice sect). Supported by Liu Yan, the Governor of Yi Province, Zhang Lu and Zhang Xiu attacked and seized Hanzhong from the Han government. After eliminating Zhang Xiu, Zhang Lu established a virtually independent religious state in Hanzhong, renaming the region Han’ning. He governed humanely by establishing free public rest stops with provisions, distributing taxes fairly, and building a strong autonomous regime that resisted both Li Jue and Liu Zhang, whose forces he repeatedly repelled after the execution of Zhang Lu’s family.
Surrender to Cao Cao & Later Years
In 215 AD, Cao Cao personally led a massive military invasion into Hanzhong. Although Zhang Lu initially desired to surrender, his younger brother Zhang Wei insisted on fighting and was defeated at Yangping Gate. Following the advice of his strategist Yan Pu, Zhang Lu retreated to Bazhong while leaving the state treasury intact, declaring that his wealth belonged to the country and not to himself. Impressed by this noble integrity, Cao Cao welcomed him warmly upon his surrender, appointed him as the General who Suppresses the South, granted peerage to his sons, and married Zhang Lu’s daughter to his own son Cao Yu. Zhang Lu passed away in 216 AD, and his religious lineage continued to propagate the Taoist tradition.
Zhang Lu (張魯) — Historical & Literary Timeline
Conquest of Hanzhong
Dispatched by Liu Yan alongside Zhang Xiu to conquer Hanzhong, after which Zhang Lu turns on Zhang Xiu, absorbs his forces, and establishes an independent religious rule.
Alliance with Ma Chao
Shelters the fleeing western warlord Ma Chao after Cao Cao defeats him, supplying troops for retaliatory campaigns before ties eventually sour.
Invasion of Hanzhong & Surrender to Cao Cao
Faced with Cao Cao’s invasion and Zhang Wei’s defeat, Zhang Lu surrenders after retreating to Bazhong, earning Cao Cao’s profound respect and high official titles.
Romance of the Three Kingdoms Narrative
In Luo Guanzhong’s historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Zhang Lu is portrayed as a benevolent and pious warlord who governs Hanzhong through religious devotion and moral rectitude rather than harsh tyranny. His eventual surrender to Cao Cao sets the stage for the dramatic campaigns in Western China and the ultimate rise of the Kingdom of Shu-Han.
For detailed historical records, archives, and official chronicles, explore Zhang Lu on Wikipedia.
Key Relationships
Family
- Zhang Daoling (张道陵, Trương Đạo Lăng): Grandfather and legendary founder of the Way of the Celestial Masters, establishing the religious lineage Zhang Lu continued.
- Zhang Heng (张衡, Trương Hành): Father and predecessor who served as the second leader of the Five Pecks of Rice movement.
- Zhang Wei (张卫, Trương Vệ): Younger brother who served as a military commander and fiercely resisted Cao Cao’s invasion at Yangping Gate in 215 AD.
- Cao Yu (曹宇, Tào Vũ): Son-in-law of Zhang Lu, who married Zhang Lu’s daughter following the surrender to Cao Cao.
Friends
- Yan Pu (阎圃, Diêm Phố): Chief strategist and advisor whose counsel was instrumental in Zhang Lu’s administrative success and his decision to surrender to Cao Cao rather than fight a losing battle.
- Pang De (庞德, Bàng Đức): A valiant general who served under Zhang Lu in Hanzhong before eventually transitioning to the service of Cao Cao.
- Yang Ang (杨昂, Dương Ngang): A military commander who served under Zhang Lu, tasked with defending the strategic gates of Hanzhong.
- Yang Bai (杨柏, Dương Bách): A military commander who served under Zhang Lu, often associated with the defense of Hanzhong.
Enemies
- Cao Cao (曹操, Tào Tháo): The warlord who invaded Hanzhong in 215 AD; after Zhang Lu surrendered, he became his lord and eventually his son-in-law’s father.
- Liu Zhang (刘璋, Lưu Chương): The Governor of Yi Province who became a bitter rival of Zhang Lu after the execution of Zhang Lu’s family, leading to prolonged regional conflict.
- Ma Chao (马超, Mã Siêu): A western warlord who sought refuge with Zhang Lu after his defeat by Cao Cao in 211 AD, though their alliance eventually soured before Ma Chao defected to Liu Bei.
- Zhang Xiu (张修, Trương Tu): An early co-commander dispatched with Zhang Lu to conquer Hanzhong; Zhang Lu turned against him and eliminated him to consolidate power.
- Liu Bei (刘备, Lưu Bị): A rival warlord whose expansion into Sichuan and Hanzhong posed a strategic threat to Zhang Lu’s autonomous religious state.
Other
- Liu Yan (刘益州, Lưu Yên): The Governor of Yi Province who initially supported Zhang Lu and Zhang Xiu’s expedition to seize Hanzhong, providing the political backing for Zhang Lu’s early state-building.
In Novel
Chapter 59
- Zhang Lu (张鲁, Trương Lỗ Công Kỳ): Grand Master of the Five Pecks of Rice (五斗米道) and warlord of Hanzhong, courtesy name Gongqi (公祺), who planned to invade Yizhou and conquer the Riverlands.
Chapter 60
- Zhang Lu (张鲁, Trương Lỗ Công Kỳ): Mobilized Hanzhong divisions to threaten Liu Zhang (刘璋, Lưu Chương) at Jiameng Pass, provoking Liu Zhang to invite Liu Bei (刘备, Lưu Bị) into Yizhou.
Chapter 65
- Zhang Lu (张鲁, Trương Lỗ Công Kỳ): Employed the exiled warrior Ma Chao (马超, Mã Siêu) to relieve Jiameng Pass against Liu Bei (刘备, Lưu Bị), but turned suspicious of Ma Chao due to slanders from Yang Song (杨松, Dương Tùng), driving Ma Chao to defect to Shu Han.
Chapter 67
- Zhang Lu (张鲁, Trương Lỗ Công Kỳ): Resisted Cao Cao's (曹操, Tào Tháo) invasion of Hanzhong at Yangping Pass; refusing Yang Song's (杨松, Dương Tùng) treasonous counsel to burn the state granaries, Zhang Lu sealed the storehouses for the people before retreating, prompting Cao Cao to honor his conduct, enfeoff him as General Who Pacifies the South, and make him Marquis of Langzhong.
In History
Summary
- Zhang Lu (张鲁, Trương Lỗ), courtesy name Gongqi, was a religious leader and warlord who controlled Hanzhong for many years. He was the third leader of the Celestial Masters tradition after Zhang Ling (张陵) and Zhang Heng (张衡).
Year: 191 AD
- Zhang Lu (张鲁, Trương Lỗ) took control of Hanzhong and established a theocratic administration known as the Hanzhong state.
Year: 215 AD
- Cao Cao (曹操, Tào Tháo) invaded Hanzhong. After initial resistance, Zhang Lu (张鲁, Trương Lỗ) withdrew and eventually surrendered. Cao Cao treated him with honor and married one of his daughters into the Cao family.
Year: 216 AD
- Zhang Lu (张鲁, Trương Lỗ) was enfeoffed as Marquis of Langzhong and lived under Cao Wei protection.
Historical Record
- Zhang Lu (张鲁, Trương Lỗ) was a real historical religious leader and warlord. His Hanzhong administration is an important historical example of the institutionalized Celestial Masters tradition.
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