Zhang Jian 張臶

Zhang Jian of Julu, courtesy name Ziming, together with Hu Zhao of Yingchuan, cultivated his aspirations and did not take office. In his youth Zhang Jian studied at the Imperial Academy, learning both the classics and the prophetic and apocryphal texts, and later returned to his home district. Records, Wei 11 §100

Yuan Shao summoned him again and again, but he did not respond and moved to Shangdang. Gao Gan, Governor of Bing Province, memorialized to appoint him Prefect of Leping, but he did not take up the post and went into hiding in Changshan, where his disciples numbered several hundred; he then moved again to Ren County. When Cao Cao became Chancellor he summoned him, but he did not go. In the Taihe era an edict sought scholars living in reclusion who could dispel calamities and avert portents, and the commandery repeatedly tried to send Zhang Jian up, but he was too old and ill to go. Records, Wei 11 §100

Three days after Lu Yu, Administrator of Guangping, took up his post, the official in charge of general affairs reported that, following precedent, he ought to send his name tablet and call on Zhang Jian. Lu Yu issued an instruction: 'Master Zhang is what is called a man who above does not serve the Son of Heaven and below does not befriend the feudal lords. How could such a man be honoured by sending a name tablet and calling on him?' He merely sent his Registrar to deliver a letter together with gifts of mutton and wine. Records, Wei 11 §101

An edict of the 4th year of Qinglong (236) stated that a precious stone bearing a picture had appeared in the Xuanchuan River in Zhangye Commandery, and that the Grand Astrologer Gaotang Long had called it an auspicious mandate received by Wei; this was proclaimed throughout the realm. When Yu Chuo, Prefect of Ren County, took it to Zhang Jian and asked him about it, Zhang Jian said to him privately, 'The numinous lets one know what is to come and does not chase what is past; auspicious signs appear first, and rise and fall follow after. The Han perished long ago and Wei already holds the realm, so why would it show a sign of rising, going back over what is done! This stone is a present calamity and an auspicious sign for the future.' Records, Wei 11 §101–102

In the 1st year of Zhengshi (240) a bird called the dairen built its nest in the shade on the north side of Zhang Jian's gate. Zhang Jian told his disciples, 'The dairen is a bird of yang, yet it has nested in the shade of the gate; this is an evil omen.' Then he drew his zither to him, sang and composed two poems, and died ten days later, at the age of 105. Records, Wei 11 §103

That year Wang Su, Administrator of Guangping, took up his post and issued an instruction to the subordinate counties. He said that while in the capital he had heard of Zhang Ziming and had intended to call on him, but that, since he had already passed away, it was a great pity; and observing that he had studied earnestly and lived in reclusion, had not competed with the world and had delighted himself in the Way, yet had not received honour or favour even into old age, he had an official sent to console his family and had his gate conspicuously marked so as to treat him with special distinction. Records, Wei 11 §103–104

In the assessment of Records of Wei 11, after saying that Guan Ning was profound, refined and lofty, firm and unshakable, Chen Shou wrote that Zhang Jian and Hu Zhao closed their gates, kept to quietude and did not seek the affairs of their age, and that he therefore recorded them together. Records, Wei 11 §111