Wang Wei (Liang Dynasty)
Encyclopedia
Wang Wei was the chief strategist for Hou Jing
, who controlled the imperial government of and briefly took over the throne of the Chinese
Liang Dynasty
dynasty and established his short-lived state of Han. Wang Wei advised Hou Jing during the latter's time as general and was elevated to prime minister during Hou's time in power. Although Wang Wei was successful as an adviser and strategist, he was captured and executed by Hou Jing's enemy, Xiao Yi after Hou's defeat and retreat east.
, Henan
). His ancestors were from Lüeyang Commandery (略陽, roughly modern Tianshui
, Gansu
), but as his father Wang Lüe (王略) served as the county magistrate of Xuchang County (許昌, Yingchuan Commandery's seat), the family remained in Yingchuan. Wang himself was known for his knowledge of the I Ching
and for his beautiful writing style, and he served as a secretary under Hou Jing while Hou was put in charge of the provinces south of the Yellow River
by the paramount general of Eastern Wei
, Gao Huan
.
In 547, after Gao Huan died, Hou, who was a friend of Gao Huan's but had a running dispute with Gao Huan's son and heir Gao Cheng
, rebelled against Eastern Wei. Wang Wei became one of Hou's chief strategists and propagandists. When Gao Cheng read the declarations that Wang wrote on Hou's behalf, he was very impressed, and commented that his staff members should have been aware of Wang's talent and recruited him. Hou subsequently surrendered the provinces he controlled to Liang, but both he and the Liang force commanded by Emperor Wu of Liang
's nephew Xiao Yuanming
were defeated by the Eastern Wei general Murong Shaozong (慕容紹宗). Xiao Yuanming was captured, and Hou lost the provinces he controlled and was forced to flee to Liang. Emperor Wu allowed Hou to control the important border city of Shouyang.
In summer of 548, believing that Emperor Wu was ready to betray him so that Xiao Yuanming would be returned, Hou rebelled against Liang after being encouraged by Wang – who pointed out that whether he rebelled or not, he faced death. Subsequently, with Wang's advice, Hou surprised Emperor Wu – who had sent his son, Xiao Guan (蕭綸) the Prince of Shaoling to attack Hou – by leaving Shouyang before Xiao Guan could approach and attacked the capital Jiankang
directly. Hou was able to reach Jiankang with minimal resistance, and after capturing the outer city, put the palace under siege
. Throughout the siege, Wang continued to serve as chief advisor and propagandist as well as negotiator with Emperor Wu and his crown prince
Xiao Gang
. It was at Wang's advice that Hou, in 549, promised peace to Emperor Wu and Xiao Gang while obtaining additional food supplies, and the resumed the siege once he obtained the additional food. In spring 549, the palace fell, and Hou took control of Emperor Wu and Xiao Gang. Wang often served as the liaison between Hou and Emperor Wu and Xiao Gang. In summer 549, when Emperor Wu died, it was Wang who escorted Xiao Gang to the palace under Hou's orders, for Xiao Gang to succeed Emperor Wu (as Emperor Jianwen
).
During Emperor Jianwen's reign, Hou was actually in control, although most Liang provincial governors refused to follow Hou's orders (issued as imperial edicts by Emperor Jianwen). When Hou was away from the capital to attack those provincial governors, Wang stayed in Jiankang to defend the capital. In 550, when Hou was away on one such campaign, Emperor Wu's grandson Xiao Huili (蕭會理) the Prince of Nankang
tried to start a coup at Jiankang to kill Wang, but Wang discovered his plot and put him and his coconspirators to death. While Wang could not prove that Emperor Jianwen was involved, both he and Hou became more suspicious of Emperor Jianwen, notwithstanding that Hou had married Emperor Jianwen's daughter Princess Liyang. Nevertheless, Hou continued to favor Princess Liyang greatly, and Wang, feeling that he was spending too much time with her and not enough time on important matters of state, advised him to spend less time with her. However, this brought Wang into conflict with the princess, and she argued with him. Fearing that Hou would turn against him at the princess' urging, Wang instead advised Hou to get rid of the emperor.
the Prince of Xiangdong – then the strongest remaining Liang prince – ended in disaster, he feared for his safety and wanted to seize the throne immediately. Wang persuaded him that before doing so, he needed to demonstrate his power by deposing the emperor. Hou therefore did so, replacing Emperor Jianwen with his grandnephew Xiao Dong
, the Prince of Yuzhang. One and a half months later, at Wang's urging, Hou sent Wang to kill Emperor Jianwen. Wang carried it out by first feasting with Emperor Jianwen (who had already known his intent), and then, after Emperor Jianwen became drunk, suffocating him. A month later, Hou forced Xiao Dong to yield the throne to him, establishing a state of Han. Wang was made the prime minister, and it was at his urging that Hou built temples to worship his ancestors, pursuant to Confucian tradition. Because Hou did not know his ancestors' names beyond his grandfather's, Wang had to make up names for them. Wang also tried to curb Hou's frivolous behavior, although this made Hou depressed.
and Chen Baxian reached Jiankang and defeated Hou, Wang Wei advised Hou to defend the palace against a potential siege, but Hou instead abandoned Jiankang and fled east. After Hou fled, Wang Wei fled separately with the generals Hou Zijian (侯子鑒) and Chen Qing (陳慶), trying to get to Guangling (廣陵, in modern Yangzhou
, Jiangsu
) to join another general, Guo Yuanjian (郭元建). However, on the way, Wang Wei became lost and separated from Hou Zijian. He was instead captured by the army commander Huang Gongxi (黃公喜) and delivered to Jiankang. Wang Sengbian rebuked him for fleeing and not dying for his emperor, and Wang, alluding to an incident where Hou had allowed Wang Sengbian to flee, instead responded, "Success and failure had already been determined by heaven
. If Hou had accepted my suggestion to detain you, how would you have this success?" Wang Sengbian laughed and was impressed with Wang Wei's fortitude in his response, and only imprisoned him, awaiting instructions from Xiao Yi on what to do. While imprisoned, Wang Wei wrote poems to Xiao Yi's associates and Xiao Yi himself, hoping that his talent could impress them enough to spare him. Xiao Yi was initially inclined to spare him, but Wang Wei's enemies instead told Xiao Yi to read one of the propaganda pieces that Wang Wei had written for Hou. Xiao Yi, who was blind in one eye and sensitive about his blind eye, read:
Insulted, Xiao Yi ordered that Wang Wei be put to death in a cruel manner. It was said that as he was being executed, Wang's countenance did not change.
Hou Jing
Hou Jing , courtesy name Wanjing , was a general for the Chinese states Northern Wei, Eastern Wei, and Liang Dynasty, and briefly, after controlling the Liang imperial regime for several years, usurped the Liang throne, establishing a state of Han...
, who controlled the imperial government of and briefly took over the throne of the Chinese
History of China
Chinese civilization originated in various regional centers along both the Yellow River and the Yangtze River valleys in the Neolithic era, but the Yellow River is said to be the Cradle of Chinese Civilization. With thousands of years of continuous history, China is one of the world's oldest...
Liang Dynasty
Liang Dynasty
The Liang Dynasty , also known as the Southern Liang Dynasty , was the third of the Southern dynasties in China and was followed by the Chen Dynasty...
dynasty and established his short-lived state of Han. Wang Wei advised Hou Jing during the latter's time as general and was elevated to prime minister during Hou's time in power. Although Wang Wei was successful as an adviser and strategist, he was captured and executed by Hou Jing's enemy, Xiao Yi after Hou's defeat and retreat east.
As Hou Jing's chief strategist
Wang was from Yingchuan Commandery (潁川, roughly modern XuchangXuchang
Xuchang is a prefecture-level city in central Henan province in Central China. It borders the provincial capital of Zhengzhou to the northwest, Kaifeng to the northeast, Zhoukou to the east, Luohe to the southeast, and Pingdingshan to the southwest....
, Henan
Henan
Henan , is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the central part of the country. Its one-character abbreviation is "豫" , named after Yuzhou , a Han Dynasty state that included parts of Henan...
). His ancestors were from Lüeyang Commandery (略陽, roughly modern Tianshui
Tianshui
Tianshui is the second largest city in Gansu province in northwest China. Its population is approximately 3,500,000.Tianshui lies along the route of the ancient Northern Silk Road at the Wei River, through which much of trade occurred between China and the west...
, Gansu
Gansu
' is a province located in the northwest of the People's Republic of China.It lies between the Tibetan and Huangtu plateaus, and borders Mongolia, Inner Mongolia, and Ningxia to the north, Xinjiang and Qinghai to the west, Sichuan to the south, and Shaanxi to the east...
), but as his father Wang Lüe (王略) served as the county magistrate of Xuchang County (許昌, Yingchuan Commandery's seat), the family remained in Yingchuan. Wang himself was known for his knowledge of the I Ching
I Ching
The I Ching or "Yì Jīng" , also known as the Classic of Changes, Book of Changes and Zhouyi, is one of the oldest of the Chinese classic texts...
and for his beautiful writing style, and he served as a secretary under Hou Jing while Hou was put in charge of the provinces south of the Yellow River
Yellow River
The Yellow River or Huang He, formerly known as the Hwang Ho, is the second-longest river in China and the sixth-longest in the world at the estimated length of . Originating in the Bayan Har Mountains in Qinghai Province in western China, it flows through nine provinces of China and empties into...
by the paramount general of Eastern Wei
Eastern Wei
The Eastern Wei Dynasty followed the disintegration of the Northern Wei, and ruled northern China from 534 to 550.In 534 Gao Huan, the potentate of the eastern half of what was Northern Wei territory following the disintegration of the Northern Wei dynasty installed Yuan Shanjian a descendant of...
, Gao Huan
Gao Huan
Gao Huan , nickname Heliuhun , formally Prince Xianwu of Qi , later further formally honored by Northern Qi initially as Emperor Xianwu , then as Emperor Shenwu with the temple name Gaozu , was the paramount general of the...
.
In 547, after Gao Huan died, Hou, who was a friend of Gao Huan's but had a running dispute with Gao Huan's son and heir Gao Cheng
Gao Cheng
Gao Cheng , courtesy name Zihui , formally Prince Wenxiang of Bohai , later further posthumously honored by Northern Qi as Emperor Wenxiang with the temple name Shizong , was the paramount official of the Chinese/Xianbei state Eastern Wei, a branch successor state of Northern Wei...
, rebelled against Eastern Wei. Wang Wei became one of Hou's chief strategists and propagandists. When Gao Cheng read the declarations that Wang wrote on Hou's behalf, he was very impressed, and commented that his staff members should have been aware of Wang's talent and recruited him. Hou subsequently surrendered the provinces he controlled to Liang, but both he and the Liang force commanded by Emperor Wu of Liang
Emperor Wu of Liang
Emperor Wu of Liang , personal name Xiao Yan , courtesy name Shuda , nickname Lian'er , was the founding emperor of the Chinese Liang Dynasty...
's nephew Xiao Yuanming
Xiao Yuanming
Xiao Yuanming , courtesy name Jingtong , often known by his pre-ascension title of Marquess of Zhenyang , at times known by his post-removal title Duke of Jian'an , honored Emperor Min by Xiao Zhuang, was briefly an emperor of the Chinese Liang Dynasty. He was the nephew of the founding emperor...
were defeated by the Eastern Wei general Murong Shaozong (慕容紹宗). Xiao Yuanming was captured, and Hou lost the provinces he controlled and was forced to flee to Liang. Emperor Wu allowed Hou to control the important border city of Shouyang.
In summer of 548, believing that Emperor Wu was ready to betray him so that Xiao Yuanming would be returned, Hou rebelled against Liang after being encouraged by Wang – who pointed out that whether he rebelled or not, he faced death. Subsequently, with Wang's advice, Hou surprised Emperor Wu – who had sent his son, Xiao Guan (蕭綸) the Prince of Shaoling to attack Hou – by leaving Shouyang before Xiao Guan could approach and attacked the capital Jiankang
Jiankang
Jiankang was the capital city of the Eastern Jin Dynasty and Southern Dynasties. Its walls are extant ruins in the modern municipal region of Nanjing.-History:...
directly. Hou was able to reach Jiankang with minimal resistance, and after capturing the outer city, put the palace under siege
Siege
A siege is a military blockade of a city or fortress with the intent of conquering by attrition or assault. The term derives from sedere, Latin for "to sit". Generally speaking, siege warfare is a form of constant, low intensity conflict characterized by one party holding a strong, static...
. Throughout the siege, Wang continued to serve as chief advisor and propagandist as well as negotiator with Emperor Wu and his crown prince
Crown Prince
A crown prince or crown princess is the heir or heiress apparent to the throne in a royal or imperial monarchy. The wife of a crown prince is also titled crown princess....
Xiao Gang
Emperor Jianwen of Liang
Emperor Jianwen of Liang , personal name Xiao Gang , courtesy name Shizuan , nickname Liutong , was an emperor of the Chinese Liang Dynasty. He was initially not the crown prince of his father Emperor Wu, the founder of the dynasty, but became the crown prince in 531 after his older brother Xiao...
. It was at Wang's advice that Hou, in 549, promised peace to Emperor Wu and Xiao Gang while obtaining additional food supplies, and the resumed the siege once he obtained the additional food. In spring 549, the palace fell, and Hou took control of Emperor Wu and Xiao Gang. Wang often served as the liaison between Hou and Emperor Wu and Xiao Gang. In summer 549, when Emperor Wu died, it was Wang who escorted Xiao Gang to the palace under Hou's orders, for Xiao Gang to succeed Emperor Wu (as Emperor Jianwen
Emperor Jianwen of Liang
Emperor Jianwen of Liang , personal name Xiao Gang , courtesy name Shizuan , nickname Liutong , was an emperor of the Chinese Liang Dynasty. He was initially not the crown prince of his father Emperor Wu, the founder of the dynasty, but became the crown prince in 531 after his older brother Xiao...
).
During Emperor Jianwen's reign, Hou was actually in control, although most Liang provincial governors refused to follow Hou's orders (issued as imperial edicts by Emperor Jianwen). When Hou was away from the capital to attack those provincial governors, Wang stayed in Jiankang to defend the capital. In 550, when Hou was away on one such campaign, Emperor Wu's grandson Xiao Huili (蕭會理) the Prince of Nankang
Nankang
Nankang may refer to:* Nankang, Jiangxi, a county-level city in Jiangxi Province, China* Nankang Rubber Tire, a Taiwanese tire manufacturer based in Taipei , Taiwan* Nangang District, Taipei, a district in Taipei, Taiwan...
tried to start a coup at Jiankang to kill Wang, but Wang discovered his plot and put him and his coconspirators to death. While Wang could not prove that Emperor Jianwen was involved, both he and Hou became more suspicious of Emperor Jianwen, notwithstanding that Hou had married Emperor Jianwen's daughter Princess Liyang. Nevertheless, Hou continued to favor Princess Liyang greatly, and Wang, feeling that he was spending too much time with her and not enough time on important matters of state, advised him to spend less time with her. However, this brought Wang into conflict with the princess, and she argued with him. Fearing that Hou would turn against him at the princess' urging, Wang instead advised Hou to get rid of the emperor.
As Hou Jing's prime minister
Hou did not act against Emperor Jianwen immediately, but in autumn 551, after his campaign against Emperor Jianwen's brother Xiao YiEmperor Yuan of Liang
Emperor Yuan of Liang , personal name Xiao Yi , courtesy name Shicheng , nickname Qifu , was an emperor of the Chinese Liang Dynasty...
the Prince of Xiangdong – then the strongest remaining Liang prince – ended in disaster, he feared for his safety and wanted to seize the throne immediately. Wang persuaded him that before doing so, he needed to demonstrate his power by deposing the emperor. Hou therefore did so, replacing Emperor Jianwen with his grandnephew Xiao Dong
Xiao Dong
Xiao Dung , courtesy name Yuanji , sometimes known by his pre-ascension title of Prince of Yuzhang , was briefly an emperor of the Chinese Liang Dynasty...
, the Prince of Yuzhang. One and a half months later, at Wang's urging, Hou sent Wang to kill Emperor Jianwen. Wang carried it out by first feasting with Emperor Jianwen (who had already known his intent), and then, after Emperor Jianwen became drunk, suffocating him. A month later, Hou forced Xiao Dong to yield the throne to him, establishing a state of Han. Wang was made the prime minister, and it was at his urging that Hou built temples to worship his ancestors, pursuant to Confucian tradition. Because Hou did not know his ancestors' names beyond his grandfather's, Wang had to make up names for them. Wang also tried to curb Hou's frivolous behavior, although this made Hou depressed.
After Hou Jing's defeat
In spring 552, after Xiao Yi's generals Wang SengbianWang Sengbian
Wang Sengbian , courtesy name Juncai , was a general of the Chinese dynasty Liang Dynasty. He came to prominence as the leading general under Emperor Yuan 's campaigns against the rebel general Hou Jing and other competitors for the Liang throne, and after Emperor Yuan was defeated by Western Wei...
and Chen Baxian reached Jiankang and defeated Hou, Wang Wei advised Hou to defend the palace against a potential siege, but Hou instead abandoned Jiankang and fled east. After Hou fled, Wang Wei fled separately with the generals Hou Zijian (侯子鑒) and Chen Qing (陳慶), trying to get to Guangling (廣陵, in modern Yangzhou
Yangzhou
Yangzhou is a prefecture-level city in central Jiangsu Province, People's Republic of China. Sitting on the northern bank of the Yangtze River, it borders the provincial capital of Nanjing to the southwest, Huai'an to the north, Yancheng to the northeast, Taizhou to the east, and Zhenjiang across...
, Jiangsu
Jiangsu
' is a province of the People's Republic of China, located along the east coast of the country. The name comes from jiang, short for the city of Jiangning , and su, for the city of Suzhou. The abbreviation for this province is "苏" , the second character of its name...
) to join another general, Guo Yuanjian (郭元建). However, on the way, Wang Wei became lost and separated from Hou Zijian. He was instead captured by the army commander Huang Gongxi (黃公喜) and delivered to Jiankang. Wang Sengbian rebuked him for fleeing and not dying for his emperor, and Wang, alluding to an incident where Hou had allowed Wang Sengbian to flee, instead responded, "Success and failure had already been determined by heaven
Heaven worship
Heaven worship is a Chinese religious belief that predates Taoism and Confucianism, but was later incorporated into both.The Ancient Chinese believed in a non-corporeal entity called Shangdi, an omnipotent, just, and monotheistic supreme being. Over time, Shangdi became synonymous with Tian , or...
. If Hou had accepted my suggestion to detain you, how would you have this success?" Wang Sengbian laughed and was impressed with Wang Wei's fortitude in his response, and only imprisoned him, awaiting instructions from Xiao Yi on what to do. While imprisoned, Wang Wei wrote poems to Xiao Yi's associates and Xiao Yi himself, hoping that his talent could impress them enough to spare him. Xiao Yi was initially inclined to spare him, but Wang Wei's enemies instead told Xiao Yi to read one of the propaganda pieces that Wang Wei had written for Hou. Xiao Yi, who was blind in one eye and sensitive about his blind eye, read:
Insulted, Xiao Yi ordered that Wang Wei be put to death in a cruel manner. It was said that as he was being executed, Wang's countenance did not change.