Zhang Gui (Tang dynasty)

Zhang Gui 張珪 (dates uncertain, likely active mid-8th century during the Tang Dynasty), was a Chinese official and scholar-official who served during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong (r. 712-756). He is primarily remembered for his contributions to the drafting and compilation of legal and administrative codes, specifically involved in revisions and standardization of existing legal frameworks within the Tang administration. While specific details of his early life and career progression are often limited to official historical records, he appears to have held positions related to legal documentation and imperial decrees.

His work was considered important for maintaining the efficiency and consistency of the Tang bureaucracy, a period often regarded as a golden age of Chinese civilization, at least in its early and middle phases. The precise details of his roles in various committees or official bodies involved in legal reform remain somewhat fragmented, but his name appears in association with key codification projects aimed at streamlining and clarifying imperial edicts and laws. He was known for his meticulous approach to documenting and classifying legal precedents.

Information concerning Zhang Gui's personal life and later career is sparse. Records do not explicitly indicate his rank, family background beyond name, nor the ultimate fate of his career after his involvement in legal codification. He is remembered primarily for his service to the imperial court and his contributions to the Tang legal system.