Zhang Bao 張寶


 * This article is about a Yellow Turban leader, for the general of Shu, see Zhang Bao (Shu).

Zhang Bao (張寶) was the younger brother of Yellow Turban leader Zhang Jiao (張角). During the Yellow Turban Rebellion he was self-titled Lord of Earth General (地公將軍) and operated from his home commandery of Julu together with his two brothers.

Biography
Zhang Bao was a man from Julu commandery in Ji province. It is assumed he was the second oldest brother, with Jiao being the oldest and Zhang Liang (張梁) being the youngest. Though there are some sources that say Zhang Bao was actually the youngest.

The Way of Great Peace

 * main article: Way of Great Peace

During the early 170’s Zhang Jiao founded a religious movement called the 'Way of Great Peace' (太平道). He did this together with his younger brothers Zhang Bao and Zhang Liang. Zhang Jiao named himself its 'Great Virtuous Teacher', but it is not known whether his brothers also held titles or ranks in their movement. Some say they were called 'Great Healers' (大醫), but this has yet to be confirmed through a reliable source.

Prior to the Rebellion
The Zhang brothers' religious movement was a success and ultimately resulted in a total of 360.000 followers from the eight province of Qing, Xu, You, Ji, Jing, Yang, Yan and Yu. They spread the word that:


 * "The azure sky is dead and a Yellow Heaven will take its place. When the year is Jiazi great fortune will come to the world."

Han officials Yang Ci and Liu Tao tried to warn the Emperor Ling (靈帝) about the growth of the Zhang brothers' rise in popularity, but were ignored.

In 184 A.D., the year jiazi (甲子), one of Zhang Jiao's disciples, a man named Tang Zhou (唐周), informed the Han about his masters plot. All Yellow Turban sympathizers in the capital of Luoyang were arrested and orders were sent to Ji province that Zhang Jiao and his followers should be arrested.

Rebellion
In the second month of the year 184 A.D. the Zhang brothers gave themselves titles. Zhang Jiao named himself Lord of Heaven General, Zhang Bao named himself Lord of Earth General and Zhang Liang named himself Lord of Man General.

The Yellow Turbans scored some early successes, plundering commanderies, killing Han officials and even beating Han generals. During summer the tides seem to change in the Han's favour. The Zhang brothers had lost many of their Division leaders to He Jin's generals and Zhang Jiao was fighting a losing battle against the General of the Gentlemen of the Household the North Lu Zhi (盧植).

Death
During the summer Zhang Jiao was taken ill and eventually succumbed to his illness. Zhang Liang therefore maintained the defence of Guangzong city in Julu commandery. In the tenth month of 184 A.D. Zhang Liang fought the General of the Gentleman of the Household on the Left Huangfu Song (皇甫嵩) at Guangzong city and was defeated and killed after a tough battle. Thus, Zhang Bao was the last remaining of the three Zhang brothers. He led the remnants of their forces to Xiaquyang city in the north of the commandery, which appears to have been the headquarters of the Zhang brothers. Huangfu Song, now aided by the local Grand Administrator Guo Dian, took chase, fought them and defeated them. Zhang Bao died in the slaughter.

Family
brothers
 * Zhang Jiao
 * Zhang Liang

Fact vs. Fiction
Historically...
 * ...Zhang Bao was not betrayed by the fictional Yan Zheng, he was killed in battle with Huangfu Song.
 * ...Zhang Bao obviously was not a sorcerer and could not control the wind.

List of References

 * A Biographical Dictionary of Later Han to the Three Kingdoms
 * Emperor Huan and Emperor Ling
 * Hou Han shu
 * The Cambridge History of China, volume 1
 * The Yellow Turbans (Monumenta Serica vol. XVII)
 * Zizhi Tongjian