Editing Zhang Heng (section)

===Early life===
Born in the town of [[Xi'e]] in [[Nanyang Commandery]] (north of the modern [[Nanyang, Henan|Nanyang City]] in [[Henan]] [[provinces of China|province]]), Zhang Heng came from a distinguished but not affluent family.<ref name="crespigny 2007 1049"/><ref name="xiao knechtges 1996 397">Xiao and Knechtges (1996), 397.</ref><ref name="yan 2007 127">Yan (2007), 127.</ref> His grandfather Zhang Kan ({{lang|zh|張堪}}) had been governor of a [[Commandery (China)|commandery]] and one of the leaders who supported the restoration of the [[Han dynasty|Han]] by [[Emperor Guangwu of Han|Emperor Guangwu]] (r.&nbsp;25–57), following the death of the usurping [[Wang Mang]] of the [[Xin dynasty|Xin]] (AD&nbsp;9–23).<ref name="crespigny 2007 1049">Crespigny (2007), 1049.</ref><ref name="xiao knechtges 1996 398"/><ref name="asiapac 2004 120">Asiapac (2004), 120.</ref><ref name="loewe 1968 105">Loewe (1968), 105.</ref> When he was ten, Zhang's father died, leaving him in the care of his mother and grandmother.<ref name="asiapac 2004 120"/>

An accomplished writer in his youth, Zhang left home in the year 95 to pursue his studies in the [[capitals of China|capitals]] of [[Chang'an]] and [[Luoyang]].<ref name="crespigny 2007 1049"/> While traveling to Luoyang, Zhang passed by a [[hot spring]] near [[Mount Li]] and dedicated one of his earliest [[Fu (poetry)|''fu'' poems]] to it.<ref name="neinhauser 1986 211">Neinhauser et al. (1986), 211.</ref> This work, entitled "''Fu'' on the Hot Springs" (''Wēnquán fù'' 溫泉賦), describes the throngs of people attending the hot springs, which later became famous as the "[[Huaqing Pool|Huaqing Hot Springs]]", a favorite retreat of imperial concubine [[Yang Guifei]] during the [[Tang dynasty]].<ref name="fraser371">Fraser (2014): 371.</ref> After studying for some years at Luoyang's [[Taixue]], he was well-versed in the [[Chinese classic texts|classics]] and friends with several notable persons, including the mathematician and calligrapher [[Cui Yuan (Han dynasty)|Cui Yuan]] (78–143), the official and philosophical commentator [[Ma Rong]] (79–166), and the philosopher [[Wang Fu (philosopher)|Wang Fu]] (78–163).<ref name="crespigny 2007 1049"/><ref name="yan 2007 127"/> Government authorities offered Zhang appointments to several offices, including a position as one of the [[Three Excellencies|Imperial Secretaries]], yet he acted modestly and declined.<ref name="crespigny 2007 1049"/><ref name="neinhauser 1986 211"/>

At age 23, Zhang returned home with the title "Officer of Merit in Nanyang", serving as the master of documents under the administration of Governor [[Bao De]] (in office from 103 to 111).<ref name="crespigny 2007 1049"/><ref name="yan 2007 127"/><ref name="xiao knechtges 1996 398"/> As he was charged with composing inscriptions and dirges for the governor, he gained experience in writing official documents.<ref name="xiao knechtges 1996 398"/> As Officer of Merit in the commandery, he was also responsible for local appointments to office and recommendations to the capital of nominees for higher office.<ref name="crespigny 2007 1229">Crespigny (2007), 1229.</ref> He spent much of his time composing [[Rhapsody (music)|rhapsodies]] on the capital cities. When Bao De was recalled to the capital in 111 to serve as a minister of finance, Zhang continued his literary work at home in Xi'e.<ref name="crespigny 2007 1049"/><ref name="xiao knechtges 1996 398"/><ref name="neinhauser 1986 211"/> Zhang Heng began his studies in astronomy at the age of 30 and began publishing his works on [[Chinese astronomy|astronomy]] and [[Chinese mathematics|mathematics]].<ref name="xiao knechtges 1996 398"/>