Zhang Lei (1054–1114) was a poet and literary writer of the Northern Song. His courtesy name was Wenqian; he was also known by the sobriquets Keshan and Wanqiu xiansheng. His ancestral home was Qiaoxian in Bozhou (present-day Bozhou, Anhui), while he grew up in Huaiyin, Chuzhou (southwest of present-day Huaiyin, Jiangsu); Huaiyin is also given as his native place.
Life
Gifted in writing from youth, he later won the esteem of Su Shi and Su Shi's brother; together with Huang Tingjian, Chao Buzhi, and Qin Guan, he was counted among the Four Scholars of Su Shi's circle. He passed the jinshi examination in the sixth year of Xining (1073) and was appointed Linhuai registrar; he also attained shangshe andiji.
In the first year of Yuanyou (1086), he was summoned from Taixue to compete for an institutional post and served successively as Mishu Cheng, Zhuzuo Lang, and Shiguan Jiantao; after eight years in the Three Institutions, he was promoted to Qiju Sheren. His career also included Bozhou professor (亳州教授), Taixue boshi (太學博士), Mishu Sheng Zhengzi (秘書省正字), Zhuzuo Zuolang (著作佐郎), Jixian Jiaoli (集賢校理), and Guoshiyuan Jiantao (國史院檢討官).
At the beginning of Shaosheng (1094), holding the title Zhizh Longtuge xueshi (直龍圖閣學士), he went out as prefect of Runzhou and soon transferred to Xuanzhou; in the third year of Shaosheng (1096), he was placed in charge of Mingdao Palace. In the fourth year of Shaosheng, he was stripped of office because of the Yuanyou party register, sent to supervise the Huangzhou liquor tax, and in the second year of Yuanfu (1099) transferred to the same duty in Fuzhou.
After Huizong's accession, he was recalled as assistant prefect of Huangzhou, transferred to govern Yanzhou, summoned as vice minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, and sent out to govern Yingzhou and Ruzhou; his career also lists Mishu Shaojian (秘書少監), supervision of Bozhou Mingdao Palace, Chengyilang (承議郎), and supervision of the Southern Mountain Yue Temple. In the first year of Chongning (1102), party controversy brought him under punishment again; because he had performed mourning rites for Su Shi, he was demoted to Fangzhou biejia and placed in Huangzhou. In the fifth year of Chongning he was allowed to go where he wished and returned to Huaiyin; by the second year of Daguan (1108) he was living in Chenzhou, and he died in the fourth year of Zhenghe at the age of sixty-one.
Literary work
He excelled in shi poetry, fu, and prose; his poetry sought plainness in the manner of Bai Juyi, while his yuefu followed Zhang Ji, and his poetry and prose looked to Su Shi.
His writings include Keshan ji (《柯山集》), fifty juan with twelve juan of supplementary pieces and one juan of continuation; Zhang Youshi wenji (《張右史文集》), sixty juan; and Wanqiu xiansheng wenji (《宛丘先生文集》), seventy-six juan. Wanqiu ji (《宛丘集》) is also given as seventy juan, extant, differing in title and count from Wanqiu xiansheng wenji; other works include Mingdao zazhi (《明道雜志》), Shishuo (《詩說》), Zhifeng fang (《治風方》) in one juan, and the titles Wanqiu tiba (《宛丘題跋》), Liang Han jueyi (《兩漢決疑》), and Zhu furen zhuan (《竹夫人傳》), also in one juan.
References
- CBDB Zhang Lei (12354)
- 搜韵 張耒 (25820)
- Wikidata Zhang Lei (Q11067580)