Zhang Jiazhen - Background

Background

Zhang Jiazhen was born in 665, during the reign of Emperor Gaozong. His family was from Pu Prefecture (蒲州, roughly modern Yuncheng, Shanxi), and traced its ancestry to the Jin Dynasty (265-420) chancellor Zhang Hua and was originally from Fanyang (范陽, in modern Beijing), but his great-great-grandfather Zhang Zizha (張子吒) served as the secretary general of Hedong Commandery (河東, roughly modern Yuncheng, later converted into Pu Prefecture) for Tang Dynasty's predecessor Sui Dynasty, and therefore relocated his family to Hedong. Zhang Jiazhen's great-grandfather Zhang Changdu (張長度), grandfather Zhang Junxing (張俊興), and father Zhang Siyi (張思義) all served as minor officials for Tang. He had at least one younger brother, Zhang Jiayou (張嘉祐), and as Zhang Siyi died early, Zhang Jiazhen and Zhang Jiayou supported each other in their youths.

Zhang Jiazhen passed the imperial examinations in his youth and was made the magistrate of Pingxiang County (平鄉, in modern Xingtai, Hebei), but was removed from office for an offense unspecified in historical accounts. He then returned home to Pu Prefecture. During the Chang'an era (701-705) of Emperor Gaozong's wife Wu Zetian, there was an occasion when the imperial censor Zhang Xunxian (張循憲) was ordered to examine Hedong Circuit (河東道, roughly modern Shanxi), when he encountered some cases that were difficult for him to decide. He thus asked the local officials, "Is there anyone here who is intelligent whom I can consult?" A local official recommended Zhang Jiazhen, and Zhang Xunxian consulted him. Zhang Jiazhen surprised Zhang Xunxian with his ability to analyze the situation and come up with the correct resolutions. He thus had Zhang Jiazhen draft his report to Wu Zetian as well. After Zhang Xunxian returned to the capital Luoyang, Wu Zetian was impressed by the quality of the report. Zhang Xunxian informed her that it was Zhang Jiazhen who drafted it for him, and offered to give his office to Zhang Jiazhen. She responded, "Do I not have an office for the capable?" She summoned Zhang Jiazhen to Luoyang and met with him personally. She was impressed with him, and thus made him an imperial censor; she also promoted Zhang Xunxian for his ability to find Zhang Jiazhen. Zhang Jiazhen subsequently successively served as a low-level official at the ministry of defense (兵部員外郎, Bingbu Yuanwailang), when he was became known for his abilities; Zhongshu Sheren (中書舍人), a mid-level official at the legislative bureau of government (中書省, Zhongshu Sheng); the commandant at Liang Prefecture (梁州, roughly modern Hanzhong, Shaanxi) and then Qin Prefecture (秦州, roughly modern Tianshui, Gansu); and then the secretary general at Bing Prefecture (并州, roughly modern Taiyuan, Shanxi). He became known for strictness in his governance, and his subordinates feared him.