Zhang Changpu

Zhang Changpu
Concubine of Zhong Yao
Born	200
Died	257 (aged 58)
Names
Traditional Chinese	張昌蒲
Simplified Chinese	张昌蒲
Pinyin	Zhāng Chāngpǔ
Wade–Giles	Chang Ch'ang-p'u
Courtesy name	Changpu (Chinese: 昌蒲; pinyin: Chāngpǔ; Wade–Giles: Ch'ang-p'u)

Zhang Changpu (200–257) was a concubine of Zhong Yao, a prominent politician and calligrapher in the state of Cao Wei in the Three Kingdoms period. She was also the mother of Zhong Hui, a prominent Wei general who played a significant role in the conquest of Wei's rival state, Shu Han, in 263. Her given name was not recorded in history; "Changpu" was actually her courtesy name. According to her biography written by Zhong Hui, she was a strict mother to Zhong Hui and played a significant role in his early education. She was also known for her virtuous conduct and wisdom.

The only extant source on Zhang Changpu's life is a biography of her written by her son, Zhong Hui. In the fifth century, Pei Songzhi incorporated parts of her biography as annotations into the historical text Records of the Three Kingdoms (Sanguozhi), which was written by Chen Shou in the third century.

Zhang Changpu was from Zishi County (茲氏縣), Taiyuan Commandery (太原郡), which is around present-day Fenyang, Shanxi. Her ancestors served as officials under the government of the Han dynasty and had an income of about 2,000 dan (石) of grain. She lost her parents at a young age and was married to Zhong Yao as one of his concubines. She earned praise from the Zhong household for her observance of the proprieties in her behaviour and excellent moral conduct.

Zhong Yao had another concubine, Lady Sun (孫氏), who was very jealous of her husband's other spouses and constantly sought to harm them or make them fall out of her husband's favour. When Zhang Changpu was pregnant with Zhong Hui, Lady Sun attempted to harm her and her unborn child by poisoning her food. However, Zhang Changpu was alert and she vomited out the food when she sensed that there was something wrong with it. Nevertheless, the effects of the poison still caused her to become unconscious for a few days. When she recovered, a servant advised her to tell Zhong Yao about the incident, but she replied,

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