This paper presents a textual study on P.2913, Zhang Huaishen’s Epitaph, collected in France and the related records on the back of the manuscripts Stele Inscription about Zhang Huaishen’s Construction of Caves and Related Commentary, both of which cast light on the history of the Gui-yi-jun regime. This research shows that Zhang Huaishen’s epitaph was added after his burial and might have been written in the period when Suo Xun was in power, namely from the second year of the Jingfu era to the first year of the Ganning era(892—894), a little later than the creation of the Stele Recording of Suo Xun’s Merits, written by the same author, Zhang Qiu. By analyzing the above-mentioned manuscripts and the historical circumstances of Dunhuang at that time, it is known that Suo Xun had reburied Zhang Huaishen and his sons after coming into power in order to appease the former followers of Zhuang Huaishen, indicating that Suo Xun was relatively moderate in resolving the internal strife of the Zhang Family, unlike Zhang Huaiding, the fourteenth daughter of Zhang Yichao, and the sons of the Li Family further noted in relevant texts. Those who were killed in one mentioned purge include the six sons born by Zhang Haishen’s legal wife, Lady Chen, though not including Lady Chen herself. Zhang Huaishen’s other sons were not killed because Lady Chen was not their birth mother. From this it can be inferred that Zhang Huaishen likely shared the same political views as his sons born by his legal wife, and that his other sons played a special role in this bloody coup. Zhang Qiu was very careful with the wording of these inscriptions and epitaph and from his somewhat oblique statements we can not only obtain some clues about the historical event, but even feel Zhang Qiu’s affection for Zhang Haishen through his excellent penmanship.
