Emperor Xizong of Tang
Late in the "Guangming" (880-881) era of Emperor Xizong of Tang, the Chang'an region came under attack by the major agrarian rebel Huang Chao. Hearing of the attack, Zhang Ce returned to civilian status so that he could take his parents to flee the disaster, and was much praised by the gentry who heard of this action. His father died soon thereafter, and he observed a period of mourning. Even after the period of mourning was over, however, for over a decade he did not seek an official appointment, but rather effectively became a hermit in the wilderness.