This paper outlines the life of the Late Tang dynasty literati Zhang Qiu based on the contents of Dunhuang documents and stele inscriptions signed by Zhang Qiu in, and on the anonymous works among the manuscripts of Dunhuang that have been identified as having most likely been written by him. Zhang Qiu was born in the fourth year of the Changqing era during the reign of Emperor Mu of the Tang dynasty (824) and originally lived in Yuezhou, south of the Yangtze River. After failing to pass the imperial examination, Zhang likely served in the newly founded Gui-yi-jun regime as a counselor and secretary in charge of government paper work. It was in the capacity of an official that he lived in Dunhuang, where he was a devout believer in Buddhism, copied Buddhist scriptures, and gathered disciples for education. It can be reliably stated that Zhang was alive in the year 911 and lived in Dunhuang for a total of fifty to sixty years. This paper further explores the significance of studying Zhang Qiu’s life and literary work, pointing out that his individual experiences and thought provide a wealth of information about the history of a specific time and place. Research on these topics is useful for refining and deepening related research fields, including the lo- cal history of Dunhuang, the history of Late Tang literature, and the history of cultural exchange between Western and Eastern cultures in China
