Zhang Ju

Life

During the Jiayou era of Emperor Renzong, he passed the Mingjing examination; his examination career also included the regular presented-name subjects (excluding Mingjing and Mingfa). As a young man he studied under Hu Yuan and was also a student of Ouyang Xiu; he was a friend of Jiang Zhiqi (蔣之奇), Hu Zongyu (胡宗愈), and Ding Zhi (丁隲; also written Ding Xi, 丁隙), and the four were known as the “Four Friends.”

He was recommended for appointment as a lecturer at the Imperial Academy and also held lecturer and fiscal posts. In 1099 he served as deputy transport commissioner for the Jingxi Route, and from 1100 to 1101 as a transport commission judge there; he governed Taizhou in 1103–1104, Chizhou in 1120–1122, and Qinzhou in 1124, and also held an unspecified county magistracy. After Wang Anshi’s New Policies were implemented, Ju withdrew and declined to serve in a government headed by Wang Anshi.

Family

His father was Zhang Lin; his younger brother was Zhang Xu (1065–1122), and his grandson was Zhang Xin.

Works

His works include Yijie (《易解》) and Wenji (《文集》).