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A native of Kaocheng, Suizhou (present-day Lankao County, Henan) during the Jin Dynasty. From a young age, he was fond of reading and had a deep passion for poetry. He was known for his bold and unrestrained character, paying little attention to minor details. His family had a long tradition of practicing medicine, and they resided in Wancheng, Chenzhou (present-day Huaiyang County, Henan). Later, he moved to Hunyuan (present-day Hunyuan County, Shanxi), where he studied medicine under Liu Congyi. He was greatly influenced by the prevailing theories of Liu Wansu at the time. During the Dading and Mingchang periods (1161–1195), he gradually developed his own unique medical theories and became renowned for his exceptional medical skills. During the Xingding era (1217–1223), he was summoned to serve in the Taiyiyuan (Imperial Medical Bureau), but due to disagreements with the prevailing medical practices, he resigned shortly after and returned to his hometown of Wancheng to practice medicine. Among his students were figures like Zhang Boquan. He maintained a close friendship with the famous literatus Ma Zhiji (Jiuchou), and often discussed difficult medical issues with Ma and Chang Zhongming (Yonghui). With their assistance, he completed the book Rumen Shiqin in 1228. The first three volumes were written by Zhang himself, while the latter twelve volumes were edited and refined by Ma and Chang. This book reflects the distinctive features of his academic thought.

Zhang Congzheng's academic thought took shape during the rise of Liu Wansu's "cold-cooling" theory. Zhang privately admired Liu Wansu's fundamental ideas and sought to correct the prevailing tendency of overusing warm and tonifying treatments. He adhered to the principles of Neijing and Nan Jing, as well as Zhang Zhongjing's three methods of sweating, vomiting, and purging, and established a theoretical system centered on the "theory of attacking pathogenic factors."

The emergence of Zhang Congzheng's innovative theories contributed to the prosperity and development of "Jin-Yuan medicine." His teachings were later passed down to Ma Zhiji, Chang Zhongming, Zhang Boquan, and others, continuing to spread and evolve, forming a major academic school of Jin-Yuan medicine known as the "Attacking School." It is said that Zhang Congzheng also authored works such as Zhang's Empirical Formulas and Cold-Damage Disease Heart Mirror, but unfortunately, none of these have survived to the present day.