It is not known when Zhang Ce was born. His family was originally from Dunhuang. His father Zhang Tong served as a Tang Dynasty official and at one point reached the position of governor of Rong District. At one point, Zhang Ce lived with his family at a mansion in Luoyang. At that time, an ancient-looking ornate ding was found in a well, that bore, in seal script, the inscription, "Sculpted by Ji Qian in the spring, the second month, of the first year of Wei's Huangchu era ." Zhang Tong much valued the find, but Zhang Ce, who was then only 12 years old, calmly stated to his father: Zhang Tong was surprised by his son's assertion, and checked with the records of the Cao Wei portion of the Records of the Three Kingdoms, which verified what Zhang Ce stated. The entire clan was amazed at Zhang Ce's knowledge. However, instead of going into Confucian studies and preparing for an official career, Zhang Ce was devoted to Buddhism in his youth. Even before he took adult clothes, he decided to take tonsure and became a monk at Ci'en Temple at the Tang imperial capitalChang'an. Late in the Guangming era of Emperor Xizong of Tang, the Chang'an region came under attack by the major agrarian rebel Huang Chao. Hearing of the attack, Zhang Ce returned to civilian status so that he could take his parents to flee the disaster, and was much praised by the gentry who heard of this action. His father died soon thereafter, and he observed a period of mourning. Even after the period of mourning was over, however, for over a decade he did not seek an official appointment, but rather effectively became a hermit in the wilderness.
Governmental career
During Tang Dynasty
After spending the time in the wilderness for over a decade, Zhang Ce entered imperial government service and served as a scholar at Guangwen Pavilion, and later Mishu Lang, an assistant at the Palace Library. When the warlordWang Xingyu served as the military governor of Jingnan Circuit, he invited Zhang to serve on his staff, as Guangcha Zhishi, an assistant to him in his role as governor. Later, when Wang ran into disputes with the imperial government and was attacked and defeated by Li Keyong the military governor of Hedong Circuit, Zhang, along with a servant girl, personally bore a litter to put his mother on, so that they could flee Jingnan's capital Bin Prefecture, through the snow. Fellow refugees sympathized with him, and this news spread. When Li Keyong's archrival Zhu Quanzhong the military governor of Xuanwu Circuit heard of this, he invited Zhang to serve as his assistant in his role as governor of Xuanyi Circuit. However, soon thereafter, Zhang's mother died, so he left governmental service to observe a period of mourning for her. After Zhang's period of mourning was over, he returned to the imperial government to serve as Guozi Boshi, a professor at the national university, and then Shanbu Yuanwailang, a low-level official at the ministry of rites. After less than a year, the warlord Han Jian the military governor of Zhenguo Circuit invited Zhang to serve as his secretary, and later, when Han became the military governor of Zhongwu Circuit, Zhang served as chief secretary. During the Tianfu era of Emperor Xizong's brother and successor Emperor Zhaozong, there was an occasion when Han had Zhang bear letters and gifts from Han to Zhu; when Zhu saw Zhang, he gladly stated, "Professor Zhang is here." He retained Zhang to serve as chief secretary on his own staff. Early in the Tianyou era, Zhu recommended Zhang to serve as Zhifang Langzhong, a supervisory official at the ministry of civil service affairs and an editor of imperial histories. He was soon thereafter made an imperial scholar and Bingbu Langzhong, a supervisory official at the ministry of defense ; he was also in charge of drafting edicts and editing the imperial history. Shortly after, he was made Zhongshu Sheren, a mid-level official at the legislative bureau, but bore much of the same responsibilities. In 907, when Zhu had Emperor Ai yield the throne to him, ending Tang and starting a new Later Liang as its Emperor Taizu, Zhang served as the assistant to the chancellor Yang She in bearing the imperial seal to Xuanwu's capital Daliang for the ceremony.
During Later Liang
After Emperor Taizu took the throne as Later Liang emperor, Zhang Ce was made the deputy minister of public works as well as chief imperial scholar. Later that year, he was made the deputy minister of rites. In 908, he accompanied Emperor Taizu on his campaign against rival state Jin. Shortly after, he was made deputy minister of justice and a chancellor, with the designation Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi, along with Yu Jing, replacing Yang She. He was also put in charge of the directorate of taxation and shortly after made Zhongshu Shilang, the deputy head of the legislative bureau.
Retirement and death
In late 908, Zhang Ce sought retirement due to illness. He returned to Luoyang. He spent the rest of his years on his garden planting trees, and enjoying books, music, and wine. He died in the fall of 912. He left a collection of his works — three volumes of his policy arguments in front of the emperor, 20 volumes of poetry and songs he wrote, and 30 volumes of his communiques.
