Zhang Jue was the leader of the Yellow Turban Rebellion during the late Eastern Han dynasty of China. He was said to be a follower of Taoism and a sorcerer. His name is sometimes read as Zhang Jiao, since the Chinese character of Zhang's given name can be read as either "Jiao" or "Jue". "Jue" is the traditional or literary reading, while "Jiao" is the modern or colloquial one.
Giving himself the title of "Great Teacher", Zhang Jue led the Yellow Turban Rebellion with his younger brothersZhang Bao and Zhang Liang in a campaign called the "Way of Heaven" or "Way of Peace". He and his brothers gave themselves titles: Zhang Bao was the "General of Earth", Zhang Liang was the "General of the People" ; and Zhang Jue was the "General of Heaven". The Yellow Turbans claimed to be Taoists, and rebelled against the Han dynasty in response to burdensome taxes, rampant corruption, and famine and flooding, which were seen as indications that the Han emperor had lost the mandate of heaven. The Yellow Turbans conquered much in the early years of the rebellion, but later could not hold out against Han imperial forces led by He Jin, Lu Zhi, Dong Zhuo, Huangfu Song, Zhu Jun and others. Although the Yellow Turbans still remained capable even in face of their more powerful foe, they were nonetheless torn apart upon the death of their leader, Zhang Jue, and were eventually defeated and dispersed. Zhang Bao was defeated and killed by imperial forces led by Huangfu Song and Guo Dian at Xiaquyang County, while Zhang Liang also met his end at the hands of imperial forces led by Huangfu Song at Guangzong County. Large groups of Yellow Turbans roamed through China for years after the rebellion's defeat, most of them eventually joining the army of the warlordCao Cao, whose agrarian reform policies closely matched Zhang Jue's own programme.
In ''Romance of the Three Kingdoms''
Zhang Jue is also featured in the 14th-century historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms. He is introduced in Chapter 1 as follows: Zhang Jue then goes on to start the Yellow Turban Rebellion with his brothers. Little time is devoted to Zhang Jue in the book, and his death is given a line in the second chapter: "Zhang Jue had died before his arrival." In the novel, Zhang Bao does not die in battle against imperial forces, but meets his end at the hands of a subordinate, Yan Zheng, who cuts off his head and surrenders to imperial forces.
Zhang Jue appears as a playable character in Koei's Dynasty Warriors and Warriors Orochivideo games series, as well as serving as an antagonist in Capcom's Destiny of an Emperor for the Nintendo Entertainment System. He is referred to as "Zhang Jiao" in these games. He is also seen as one of the antagonists of the light gunshooting gameSEGA Golden Gun. In 's fourth DLC installment, Mandate of Heaven, Zhang Jue and his brothers lead the playable Yellow Turban factions who seek to overthrow the failing Han dynasty and establish a new order in China.
