张九龄的一生行迹（678-740）
张九龄（678-740），字子寿，韶州曲江人，世称"张曲江"。盛唐名相、文学家、诗人。长安二年进士，开元年间官至中书令，直言敢谏，选贤任能，曾预言安禄山必反。开元二十四年为李林甫排挤罢相，贬荆州长史。诗风清淡，开盛唐风气，《感遇》《望月怀远》为传世名篇。
韶州曲江（678） · 曲江少年
唐高宗仪凤三年（678年），张九龄出生于韶州曲江（今广东韶关）。张家世代仕宦于岭南，为曲江著姓。张九龄自幼聪慧过人，七岁能文，十三岁时以文章干谒广州刺史王方庆，被赞"此子必能致远"。
长安（702） · 科举入仕
武周长安二年（702年），张九龄赴京应试，进士及第，授校书郎。考功郎沈佺期对其文才大加赏识。此后他又中"道侔伊吕"制科高第，迁左拾遗，开始展现政治才干，屡上封事指陈时政得失。
洛阳（712） · 科举入仕
唐玄宗先天元年（712年），玄宗即位，张九龄应"道侔伊吕"科策试高中，授左拾遗。开元初随驾东都洛阳，他多次上书言事，论用人得失、劝农薄赋，以敢谏直臣之声名动于朝野。
大庾岭（716） · 归乡开岭
唐玄宗开元四年（716年），张九龄因与宰相姚崇不合，辞官归乡养母。他目睹大庾岭旧路险峻难通，上书朝廷请开凿新路，并亲自主持工程。新路开通后，"坦坦而方五轨，阗阗而走四通"，岭南与中原从此血脉相连。
洪州（727） · 外放州郡
唐玄宗开元十五年（727年），张九龄因张说罢相案牵连，外放为洪州都督。他在洪州任上清明为政、兴利除弊，登滕王阁故址，望庐山烟云，写下《湖口望庐山瀑布水》等雄奇诗篇。
桂州（730） · 外放州郡
唐玄宗开元十八年（730年），张九龄转任桂州都督，兼岭南道按察选补使。他巡行岭表诸州，考察官吏、审察刑狱，所至之处吏治肃然。漓水之南的奇山秀水，被他一一写入清峻的诗句之中。
长安（拜相）（733） · 开元贤相
唐玄宗开元二十一年（733年），张九龄入朝拜中书侍郎、同中书门下平章事，次年迁中书令。他为相期间选贤与能、整顿吏治、反对李林甫专权与安禄山重用，力保开元盛世清明政治，世称"开元贤相"。
荆州（736） · 荆州晚唱
唐玄宗开元二十四年（736年），张九龄为李林甫、牛仙客进谗所构，罢知政事，次年贬荆州大都督府长史。在荆州，他登城楼望月怀远，写下千古名篇《望月怀远》与《感遇》组诗，诗格愈显清澹深婉。
韶州曲江（归葬）（740） · 荆州晚唱
唐玄宗开元二十八年（740年），张九龄请归曲江拜扫先墓，不久病逝于故里私第，享年六十三岁。赠荆州大都督，谥曰"文献"。一代贤相魂归岭表，五年后安史之乱爆发，玄宗思其先见之明而泣下。
The Life Journey of Zhang Jiuling, the Sagely Minister
Zhang Jiuling (678-740), courtesy name Zishou, was a native of Qujiang, Shaozhou — 'Zhang of Qujiang' to posterity. A statesman, essayist and poet of the High Tang, he passed the jinshi in 702 and rose to Grand Secretary under Xuanzong, speaking bluntly, choosing the worthy, and famously predicting An Lushan's rebellion. Ousted in 736 by Li Linfu's machinations, he ended his days in Jingzhou. His limpid poetry opened the High Tang manner; the 'Meditations' and 'Looking at the Moon and Longing for One Far Away' are classics forever.
Timeline of the Journey
- 678 · 韶州曲江 — Born in Qujiang, Guangdong; at seven he could write, at thirteen he so impressed the prefect of Guangzhou that the man said 'This boy will travel far.'
- 702 · 长安 — Passed the jinshi at Chang'an in 702 under Wu Zetian, then high placement in the special decree examination launched his career of candid memorials.
- 712 · 洛阳 — At Luoyang after Xuanzong's accession, his memorials on appointments and lightening taxes made him famous as a fearless remonstrator.
- 716 · 大庾岭 — Retiring home after a clash with Yao Chong, he saw the perils of the Dayu Pass and personally directed a new road across the ridge — five tracks wide, binding Lingnan to the heartland.
- 727 · 洪州 — Demoted to Hongzhou in the Zhang Yue affair, he governed wisely and wrote the majestic 'Waterfall of Mount Lu Seen from Hukou.'
- 730 · 桂州 — As Governor of Guizhou and Lingnan examiner, his inspections made the administration of the far south honest and clean.
- 733 · 长安（拜相） — Called to court in 733, he became Grand Secretary — choosing the able, checking Li Linfu, warning against An Lushan: the conscience of the Kaiyuan golden age.
- 736 · 荆州 — Ousted to Jingzhou, he wrote there 'Looking at the Moon and Longing for One Far Away' and the 'Meditations'; home to die in Qujiang in 740 — five years before the rebellion he had foreseen.
- 740 · 韶州曲江（归葬） —
'Across the sea the moon rises bright; we share it though far apart tonight.' Zhang Jiuling carried the frontier into the capital's councils and calm dignity into verse; when the rebellion he predicted broke out, Xuanzong wept for the minister he had cast away.
