By Freda Watts


The name Zhang Jiao may ring a bell for some, especially those who have studied a bit of Chinese history, but for many he is probably unknown. Zhang Jiao is actually an important part of the history of China in very early years. He was the leader of the Yellow Turban Rebellion, and often referred to himself as the 'Great Teacher'. Traditionally, his name is read as 'Jue', but in modern times people refer to him as 'Jiao'.

This man who stood out in history had two younger brothers. They assisted him in his quest for righteousness, and had their specific parts in the rebellion. Zhang Boe was referred to as the 'General of Land', and the second brother, who was named as Zhang Liang, was the 'General of People'. Jiao, however, was the leader, and the 'General of Heaven'. He made all the important decisions.

This act of great rebellion occurred in 184 AD. It is has also been known as 'The Way of Peace'. China was under the influence of Emperor Ling, and it was the time of the Han Dynasty. The head wrappings which were adorned by the rebels were the reason for the name of the army because of their color. All the rebels of the Yellow Turban Army used these head dresses.

Jiao's brothers often helped people who were sick. They were known as healers who helped others not for personal gain, but because of their caring nature. They often did not charge for their services, as the peasants were too poor to pay them. The peasants at this time lived under very poor conditions, and this was noticed by the brothers through their work.

Jiao himself, was also a healer. His method of healing was a kind of Taoism, and he relied upon his faith in order to bring about positive changes. All three men did what they could to help others, and also planned the movement that would improve lives. They gave hope to the peasants, as they knew what was coming. They set the stage for the upcoming times of change.

At this time in China the peasants were exploited by wealthy landowners. The rich people did not pay their workers well, and treated them badly. They only wanted them in order to bring more wealth to themselves. The high taxes were a major problem in the peasants' lives as well, and the number of floods that wrecked the area did not help improve the situation. The government at this time was also under collapse, which put further pressure on the peasants.

The plan was that an extremely large number of people would fight the government, and cause destruction. Zhang Jiao was the leader of this movement, and he called for action. It happened sooner than he planned, but the people obeyed. Thousands fought along with their leader. Many lost their lives, but the lives lost were not in vain.

Although the Yellow Turban Rebellion was not exactly victorious, they did cause damage. Their actions also led to the end of the Han Dynasty, before it was expected, in 220 AD. This rebellion also caused a surge of similar activities for various reasons. It was considered as the model to follow.




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