Zhang Zhao

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Zhang Zhao (張昭) (156 – 236) was a civil officer who served under the Sun family at the time of the Three Kingdoms in China.

He was born in what is now part of Jiang Su. A brilliant scholar, he devoted his life mainly to the study of classics. His fame as a scholar spread. On advice of Zhou Yu, Sun Ce personally invited Zhang Zhao to serve as an official in the court of Wu.

His political skill was so impressive that on Sun Ce's deathbed, he told his brother and successor "in internal matters, consult Zhang Zhao." When Cao Cao led an army to invade Wu, out of consideration for the populace and the future of the Sun family, he suggested that Sun Quan should submit to Cao Cao. Sun refused. Eventually, he prevailed and preserved his domain, which eventually became Eastern Wu.

Zhang Zhao was famous for his bravery and his devotion to the state of Wu. He did not see himself as being responsible to the Empire, nor the Emperor. Whenever Sun Quan made a decree that did not benefit the Empire, Zhang Zhao would criticize the Emperor.