About the author
Zhang Bi is the author of Jiu Huang Shi Yi (Matters Concerning Famine Relief). Beyond this, public information about his life is very limited: his dates of birth and death, native place, nationality, and English name are not clearly recorded, and no systematic biographical or genealogical materials are currently available for reference. The existing catalog information shows only that one work appears under his name, namely this book on famine relief, which is commonly classified among classic works. Judging from its title, the book deals with practical issues such as relief in years of famine and measures for alleviating hardship, placing it within the tradition of Chinese writings on famine administration, which typically discuss concrete methods of preparing against scarcity, providing disaster relief, and comforting the hungry. Such writing tends to be practical rather than abstract, setting out measures in an orderly way so that they can be carried out, and its style is plain and serviceable. Owing to the limited sources, Zhang Bi's other writings, associates, and official career cannot be verified, and his precise place in the history of famine-relief literature awaits further documentary research before it can be determined.