A Review of Domestic Research on Zhang Dun in the Last Forty Years

Abstract

In the past forty years, there have been a lot of domestic research results related to Zhang Dun, which has gradually formed a new hotspot in the study of the history of the Northern Song Dynasty. These studies mainly centered on Zhang Dun’s attitude towards the succession of Emperor Zhezong, Zhang Dun’s influence on the new deals, the party rivalry between Zhang Dun and the late Northern Song Dynasty, Zhang Dun’s achievements in the process of opening up the frontier in the late Northern Song Dynasty, Zhang Dun’s literary achievements, the relationship between Emperor Zhezong and Zhang Dun and the later generations’ historical writing of Zhang Dun, etc. The field of study is constantly expanding, and the research methods are also greatly reformed. To be sure, there are still some permissible innovations in the future research on Zhang Dun.