A Further Study Of Zhang Jun's Image In The Southern Song Dynasty

Zhang Jun,as the anti-war leader in the Southern Song dynasty,was powerful and had a good reputation.He had a distinct cultural characteristic,suffered in his political life,and had a significant influence on the political situation.In the records and literature of the Song dynasty,Zhang Jun was portrayed in both positive and negative sentiment.In Zhou Mi's book,Zhang Jun was negatively described as ambitious but shallow in knowledge,stubborn and domineering,jealous and imperious,wanted to be famous.While,in Luo Dajing's book,Zhang Jun was positively recorded as a quick-witted and courageous man,who had integrity,was gifted,prestigious and highly respected,good at the use of personnel,loyalty to the country and wily,and care for the fate of his country.However,Zhang Jun was portrayed as a positive image in “Rustic talks from the east of Qi”,but a negative image in “Helin Jade Crystal Bits”.In “the Biography of Zhang Jun”,“the Biography of Zhang Weigong”,“the History of Song · Zhang Jun Biography”,Zhang Jun was introduced similarly as almost perfect,such as loyalty to his emperor,filial to his parents,self-cultivated,cared about the people,discovered others' advantages,and erudite.In “Biography of Zhang Jun”,Zhao Shenzhi's record was relatively objective,which preserved Zhang Jun's image.Compared with “the Biography of Zhang Jun”,“the Biography of Zhang Weigong” focused more on his political achievements,and “the History of Song · Zhang Jun Biography” combined both.This is closely related to the fact that the official from the Song and Yuan dynasties affirmed the political stance of Zhang Jun,and complied with the political need of the anti-wars and theorists.Through Zhang Jun's deeds of beheaded the head of Zhao Zhe,using the lives of hundreds of people to ensure Qu Duan would not betray,guarding the emperor in Guazhou,and offering amnesty to Xue Qing,it showed that Zhang Jun's biggest characteristic was daring to bear the responsibilities.He put forward the strategy of prosperity should start from Shaanxi,took the tactics of“to guards the Yangtze River must guard the Huai River”,which indicated that he had an impressive strategical horizon but just normal tactical level.Although Zhang Jun sometimes engaged in self interests,he always put the Southern Song in the first place in the nick of time.After all,he was far way ahead of Wang Boyan,Huang Qianshan and Qin Hui.He made contributions in politics to a certain extent,but united with those of the same views but alienated those with different views,which led his political ideas to a disillusion.By combing various literature and works,generally speaking,Zhang Jun was neither a sage,nor a crafty sycophant,but a famous figure of the Southern Song dynasty whose efforts fail to justify his efforts,while his efforts will not disguise his achievements.