A native of Dantu, Jiangsu, Zhang took the imperial examination and earned a jinshi degree in 1661.
[1] He was appointed director-general of the Historiographical Board in 1679 and tasked with helping compile the History of Ming with Ye Fang'ai and Xu Yuanwen.
During this time, he was posted to Gaoyao, Jiangsu, with Xiong Cili to inspect the river conservancy work there by Jin Fu.
In 1697, alongside fellow grand secretaries Li Tianfu and Xiong Cili, he was made a director-general in charge of compiling the Pingding shuomo fang lüe (平定朔漠方略), an official account detailing the Qing military campaigns against the Dzungars.
Zhang was honoured with posthumous name Wenzhen (文貞) and his name was included in the Temple of Eminent Statesmen during the reign of Yongzheng.