Zhang Yichao

Zhang Yichao (Chinese: 張議潮; pinyin: Zhāng Yìcháo) (張義朝 or 張義潮 or 張議潮) (799?-872) was an ethnic Han Chinese resident of Sha Prefecture (Chinese: 沙洲; pinyin: shāzhōu, in modern Dunhuang, Gansu), who, with the ruling Tibetan state (Tufan) plunged into civil war, led a rebellion against the Tibetans and reverted the region to allegiance to China's Tang Dynasty. He subsequently conquered the region along the Hexi Corridor and governed it as the military governor (Jiedushi) of Guiyi Circuit (Chinese: 歸義軍; pinyin: Guīyìjūn, headquartered in modern Dunhuang) under nominal authority of the Tang emperors.

Mural commemorating victory of General Zhang Yichao over the Tibetans in 848. Mogao cave 156, Late Tang Dynasty

Little is known about Zhang Yichao's early life, other than that he was a resident of Sha Prefecture (Dunhuang). By 851, the Tibetan Empire (Tufan), which had ruled the southern Xinjiang and Gansu regions since the Tang recalled its garrisons from these territories in the aftermaths of the Anshi Rebellion, was being torn by civil war. Zhang secretly plotted with the other Han Chinese residents of Sha Prefecture, planning to return Sha Prefecture to Tang allegiance. One day, he led armed soldiers and approached the city gates, and the Han all rose in response. The Tufan defenders of the city, surprised, abandoned the city and fled. Zhang thereafter claimed the title of acting prefect of Sha Prefecture and submitted a petition to then-reigning Emperor Xuānzong, offering to submit. Emperor Xuānzong thus made him the defender (防禦使, Fangyushi) of Sha Prefecture.

Later in the year, Zhang launched troops to clear 10 other nearby prefectures of Tufan forces — Gua (瓜州, in modern Jiuquan, Gansu); Yi (伊州, in modern Hami Prefecture, Xinjiang); Xi (西州, in modern Turpan Prefecture, Xinjiang); Gan (甘州, in modern Zhangye, Gansu); Su (肅州, in modern Jiuquan); Lan (蘭州, in modern Lanzhou, Gansu); Shan (鄯州, in modern Haidong Prefecture, Qinghai); He (河州, in modern Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu); Min (岷州, in modern Dingxi, Gansu); and Kuo (廓州, in modern Haidong) — and then prepared the files about and the maps of the 11 prefectures and had his brother Zhang Yize (張義澤) go to the Tang capital Chang'an to submit the files and maps to Emperor Xuānzong, effectively submitting control of the 11 prefectures to Tang. Emperor Xuānzong established a new Guiyi Circuit (歸義), with its capital at Sha Prefecture, to govern the 11 prefectures, and made Zhang Yichao its military governor, and made his secretary Cao Yijin (曹義金) its secretary general.

In 863, Zhang Yichao led a group of 7,000 Han and non-Han soldiers to capture Liang Prefecture (涼州, in modern Wuwei, Gansu).

In 866, Zhang submitted a report stating that the Huigu chieftain Gujun (固俊) had recaptured, from Tufan, Xi Prefecture, Ting Prefecture (庭州, in modern Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang), Luntai (輪台, in modern Ürümqi, Xinjiang), and Qingzhen (清鎮, modern location unknown) — apparently implying that Gujun did so under his command.

In 867, Zhang went to Chang'an to pay homage to then-reigning Emperor Yizong (Emperor Xuānzong's son). Emperor Yizong made him a general of the imperial guards and kept him at Chang'an. Emperor Yizong also commissioned Zhang's nephew Zhang Huaishen (張淮深) to serve as the acting military governor of Guiyi. He died in 872, apparently while still at Chang'an.

• Zizhi Tongjian, vols. 249, 250, 252.