Zhang Tingyu

Zhang Tingyu was a Chinese official, bibliophile, calligrapher, diplomat, geographer, and historian. He was born in 1672 in Beijing, China, to a wealthy and influential family. He passed the provincial examination in 1692 and the imperial examination in 1700, becoming a member of the Hanlin Academy. He served under the Kangxi, Yongzheng and Qianlong emperors, rising through the ranks of the Qing civil service. He was especially trusted by the Yongzheng Emperor, who made him one of the first members of the Grand Council, an informal state organ that advised the emperor on important matters. He was also appointed as the Minister of Justice and the chief compiler of the official history of the Ming dynasty, the History of Ming. He was known for his integrity, loyalty, and scholarly achievements. He compiled the most complete and authoritative historical atlas of China during the Qing dynasty, the Lidai yudi tu, commonly called the Yangtu ("Yang's atlas") after his colleague Yang Shoujing, who assisted him in the project. He also compiled the Song Huiyao Jigao, a collection of official documents from the Song dynasty, which was a monumental work of historical research. He died in 1755 at the age of 82 in Tongcheng, Anhui, where his tomb is located. He is regarded as one of the most influential and respected officials and historians of the Qing dynasty.