Background The founding of the Former Liang can be traced back to
Zhang Gui. He was a
Han Chinese official under the Western Jin dynasty who claimed descent from
Zhang Er, the King of Changshan during the
Chu-Han Contention. Zhang Gui was appointed as provincial inspector by the imperial court in 301. Along with his two sons, Zhang Mao and Zhang Shi, he made Guzang (姑臧, in modern
Wuwei, Gansu) his main base and worked closely with the local population to ensure the dynastic rule of his family. Zhang Gui also developed the region by promoting agriculture and establishing new schools. Despite his influence in Liang, Zhang Gui never declared independence and remained a
Jin official up to his death in 314. Likewise, his successors for the most part nominally retained their status as Jin officials, maintaining their legitimacy by maintaining ties with the
Jin court. After Zhang Shi's assassination in 320, his brother,
Zhang Mao took power. He came into conflict with the Former Zhao, who were expanding westward to compete with their rival
Later Zhao. In 323, Zhang Mao submitted to the Former Zhao, receiving the title of King of Liang and the
nine bestowments, while internally retaining his Jin title of Duke of Xiping.
Reign of Zhang Jun , Li Bai (李柏) to the King of
Karasahr. It is the most detailed and historically verifiable document from the Former Liang, and is noted for the usage of
semi-cursive calligraphy, which gained popularity among the Jin literati around this time. The Former Liang reached its peak under
Zhang Jun, who succeeded his uncle Zhang Mao in 324. After the Later Zhao conquered Former Zhao in 329, he rejected Later Zhao's authority at first, but was eventually pressured into submission. Regardless, in 335 his forces marched across the sands and expanded his territory, forcing several oasis states in the
Western Regions like
Kucha to submit to him. Under him, the Former Liang began to use the ranks and titles of the imperial court, as well as imitating the flag, trappings, and carriage of the
Emperor roughly twenty-one years into his reign. His state's immense wealth was exemplified by his extravagant building projects, most notably the five palaces he built south of Guzang. ==Rulers of the Former Liang==