Zhang Liang (Western Han)

Master strategist and politician instrumental in the founding of the Western Han Dynasty.

Chronology: -262 – -186

Origins & Early Life

Note: In this article, to distinguish between the Han state of the Warring States period and the Han dynasty, the former is referred to as "Hán" while "Han" is reserved for the latter. Zhang Liang (c. 251 BC – 189 BC), courtesy name Zifang (子房), was a Chinese military strategist and politician who lived in the early Western Han dynasty. He is also known as one of the "Three prominences of the early Han dynasty" (漢初三傑), along with Han Xin (韓信) and Xiao He.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Zhang Liang contributed greatly to the establishment of the Han dynasty. He was enfeoffed as the Marquess of Liu (留侯) with estates in Liu County (留縣, in modern day Pei County). He was honoured with the posthumous name Wencheng (Chinese: 文成; lit. 'Civilly Accomplished') by Emperor Qianshao. == Early life == Zhang Liang was born in Xinzheng (新鄭; present-day Zhengzhou, Henan), the capital of the Hán state (韓國), while his ancestral home was in Chengfu (城父; present-day Chengfu Town, Bozhou, Anhui).

Enduring Legacy & Impact

He descended from an aristocrat family in Hán. His grandfather served three generations of the Hán rulers as chancellors while his father served two generations. Zhang Liang missed the opportunity to inherit his family's legacy as the Hán...

Source: Wikipedia