Biography
Early life
Wang Lang was originally named Wang Yan.
His courtesy name was Jingxing.
He was from Tan County, Donghai (present-day Tancheng, Shandong).
Early service
Wang Lang studied under Yang Ci, Grand Commandant.
Because he was well-versed in the classics, he was appointed Gentleman.
He served as Magistrate of Ziqiu.
Later, because Yang Ci died, Wang Lang resigned from office to observe mourning for him.
After the mourning period ended, he was recommended as Filial and Incorrupt and summoned by the government.
He did not respond to the summons.
Service under Tao Qian
Later, he was recommended as Maocai by Tao Qian, Inspector of Xuzhou.
He was appointed Clerk.
Appointment as Administrator of Kuaiji
In 193 CE, the fourth year of Chuping, Emperor Xian was controlled by Li Jue and Guo Si.
Wang Lang was Clerk of Xuzhou at that time.
Together with Zhao Yu, Biejia of Xuzhou, he suggested that Tao Qian send an envoy to the emperor to express support for the Han dynasty.
Tao Qian followed this.
He ordered Zhao Yu to bring a memorial to Chang’an.
After the emperor received the memorial, he was quite appreciative.
He promoted Tao Qian to Inspector of Xuzhou and General Who Pacifies the East.
Wang Lang was also appointed Administrator of Kuaiji.
Service as Administrator of Kuaiji
After Wang Lang arrived at Kuaiji, he saw that the local people still sacrificed to Qin Shi Huang.
They also sacrificed to him together with Yu the Great in the same temple.
Wang Lang believed that Qin Shi Huang was a tyrant.
He was not worthy of receiving sacrifices from the people.
He therefore abolished this as an improper sacrifice.
He served for four years.
He gained the love and support of the local people.
Defeat by Sun Ce
In 196 CE, the first year of Jian’an, Sun Ce, who was sweeping through Jiangdong, led troops to attack Kuaiji.
Yu Fan, Wang Lang’s subordinate and Clerk of Kuaiji, suggested avoiding Sun Ce’s sharp edge.
However, Wang Lang believed that as an official of the court, he should protect the city.
He therefore decided to fight Sun Ce.
He arrayed his forces at Guling to resist.
Sun Ce crossed the water several times to attack.
He was all repelled by Wang Lang’s forces.
Later, through the strategy of Sun Jing, Sun Ce’s uncle, Wang Lang was defeated and fled to Jiaozhou.
When he went out to sea to Dongye, he was pursued by Sun Ce.
He had no choice but to surrender.
Treatment by Sun Ce
Because Wang Lang was scholarly and refined, Sun Ce only questioned and reprimanded him.
He did not harm him.
Sun Ce also once sent Zhang Zhao, an important minister, to persuade Wang Lang to serve him.
However, Wang Lang firmly refused.
Wang Lang was therefore exiled and relocated.
His situation was impoverished.
He could not predict what would happen in the evening even in the morning.
However, he took in and cared for relatives, friends, and old subordinates.
He gave them much and received little from them.
The righteous things he did were very evident.
Service under Cao Cao
Later, Cao Cao memorialized summoning Wang Lang.
Wang Lang therefore set out from Qu’a County.
He went to Xuchang.
However, because of long warfare, the roads were blocked.
He travelled for several years before arriving.
After Wang Lang arrived at Xuchang, he was first appointed Remonstrant Gentleman.
He concurrently served as Army Adviser to the Minister over the Masses.
Service in Wei
In 213 CE, the eighteenth year of Jian’an, the Wei dukedom was established.
Wang Lang served as Army Sacrificer and concurrently Administrator of Wei Commandery.
He later successively served as Supervisor of the Palace, Minister of Ceremonies, and Court of Judicial Review.
Judicial style
Wang Lang handled affairs by being lenient toward criminals.
When there was doubt about the charges, the punishment would be light.
He and Zhong Yao both became famous for handling criminal cases.
Service under Cao Pi
In 220 CE, the first year of Yankang, after Cao Pi, Emperor Wen of Wei, succeeded to the kingship of Wei, Wang Lang was transferred to Palace Attendant Imperial Secretary.
He was enfeoffed as Marquis of Anling.
Wang Lang once memorialized advising Cao Pi to lighten criminal law.
He should instead help the young and weak.
He should help the people rest and recuperate.
Service as Minister over the Masses
In the same year, Cao Pi received the emperor’s abdication and became emperor.
He changed Palace Attendant Imperial Secretary to Minister over the Masses.
Wang Lang was advanced to Marquis of Leping.
Cao Pi often went out hunting.
Sometimes he did not return to the palace until midnight.
Wang Lang therefore memorialized remonstrating.
Cao Pi therefore no longer returned to the palace at midnight.
Advice about Wu and Shu
In 221 CE, the second year of Huangchu, the Battle of Yiling between Wu and Shu broke out.
Some people believed that they should send troops to support Wu, which had submitted as a vassal.
They should also take the opportunity to destroy Shu Han.
However, Wang Lang believed that they should wait until the two armies were locked in stalemate.
Then they should send troops to support them.
They should send prudent generals to attack Shu’s vital points.
They could achieve victory in one move.
At that time, Wu had not yet sent troops.
Moreover, it often rained.
This was not conducive to marching.
He therefore opposed this.
Cao Pi followed this.
Advice about Sun Deng
Later, Cao Pi summoned Sun Deng, Sun Quan’s eldest son, as General of the Household of the East.
However, Sun Deng did not come.
Cao Pi therefore went to Xuchang.
He greatly expanded military colonies.
He planned to attack Wu.
Wang Lang again heard that Sun Quan’s reply had not arrived.
If they sent troops and Sun Deng came, the impact would be great.
He therefore opposed sending troops.
He suggested strengthening border garrisons.
They should prevent Wu from attacking.
At that time, Cao Pi had already formed an army and campaigned.
Sun Deng never came.
Cao Pi reached the Yangtze River and then withdrew.
Service under Cao Rui
In 226 CE, the seventh year of Huangchu, Cao Rui, Emperor Ming of Wei, succeeded to the throne.
Wang Lang was advanced to Marquis of Lanling.
His fief was increased by five hundred households.
Together with the previous, it was one thousand two hundred households.
He later transferred to Minister of Works.
He once memorialized Cao Rui remonstrating against constructing palaces.
Death
In 228 CE, the second year of Taihe, in the eleventh month, Wang Lang died.
He was posthumously titled Marquis Cheng.
His son Wang Su succeeded to the marquis title.
Posthumous honours
In 243 CE, the fourth year of Zhengshi, Wang Lang, together with Cao Zhen and others, because of merit, received the honour of being sacrificed to in Cao Cao’s temple by Cao Fang.
Personality
Wang Lang was known for his talent, learning, and broad knowledge.
He was also known for his strict and generous character.
He was also known for his integrity and frugality.
He was also known for his ability to recognize people.
Military achievements
Wang Lang was primarily a civil official and did not have major military achievements.
However, he did resist Sun Ce’s attack on Kuaiji.
Relationships
With Yang Ci
Wang Lang studied under Yang Ci, Grand Commandant.
With Zhao Yu
Wang Lang was friends with Zhao Yu.
They together suggested that Tao Qian send an envoy to the emperor.
With Zhang Zhao
Wang Lang was friends with Zhang Zhao.
With Liu Yang
Wang Lang was friends with Liu Yang when he was young.
Liu Yang once planned to assassinate Cao Cao but did not succeed.
After Cao Cao came to power, he ordered the search for Liu Yang’s son.
Wang Lang took him in for several years.
After he returned to the court from Kuaiji, he repeatedly explained to Cao Cao.
After a long time, Cao Cao finally pardoned him.
Liu Yang’s family was therefore preserved.
With Cao Cao
Wang Lang served under Cao Cao and participated in establishing Wei.
With Cao Pi
Wang Lang served under Cao Pi and became one of the Three Excellencies.
With Cao Rui
Wang Lang served under Cao Rui and remonstrated against constructing palaces.
Anecdotes
The “Hua and Wang superiority” story
Hua Xin and Wang Lang once fled together by boat.
Someone wanted to join them.
Hua Xin immediately expressed hesitation.
Wang Lang said: “Fortunately, the boat is still spacious. Why not?”
Later, bandits pursued them.
Wang Lang wanted to abandon the person who had joined them.
Hua Xin said: “At first, I hesitated about whether to bring him, precisely because I was considering this situation. Since we have already accepted his request, how can we abandon him because the situation is urgent?”
They therefore continued to bring that person and flee together.
The world therefore judged Hua and Wang’s superiority and inferiority based on this.
The “unbreakable but broken” story
Cao Cao once invited Wang Lang to a banquet.
At the banquet, he mocked him: “You cannot learn from your past experience of losing a good position in Kuaiji (referring to Wang Lang’s defeat by Sun Ce when he was Administrator of Kuaiji).”
Wang Lang raised his head and sighed: “It is really difficult to behave appropriately.”
Cao Cao asked: “Why do you say this?”
Wang Lang replied: “Like me, at that time, I was an official of Han. I could not protect the territory and pacify the people. Therefore, ‘it should not have been broken but was broken.’ However, you, in this situation, originally should have fulfilled the duty of a host. You should have shown the attitude of being respectful and hospitable and lowering yourself to seek the worthy. I did not expect you to treat a new guest like this. This is ‘it can be broken but is not broken.’”
Preserving Liu Yang’s family
Wang Lang preserved Liu Yang’s family by taking in his son and explaining to Cao Cao.
Recommending talented people
Wang Lang repeatedly recommended talented people.
He once recommended Zhang Deng, Clerk, and Yang Biao, Grand Master of Splendid Happiness.
Achievements
- Successfully served as Administrator of Kuaiji and gained the people’s support
- Successfully participated in establishing Wei
- Successfully remonstrated about various matters
- Known for scholarship and Confucian learning
- Known for integrity and loyalty
Behind the scenes
Historical sources
Wang Lang’s biography appears in the Records of the Three Kingdoms by Chen Shou, grouped with Zhong Yao and Hua Xin.
Scholarship
Wang Lang was a famous Confucian scholar.
He wrote commentaries on the classics, including the Book of Changes, Spring and Autumn Annals, Classic of Filial Piety, and others.
His scholarship was called “Wang Learning.”
His son Wang Su was also a famous Confucian scholar.
The “scolded to death” story
In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Wang Lang is said to have been “scolded to death” by Zhuge Liang during Zhuge Liang’s Northern Expeditions.
However, this is fictional.
Wang Lang actually died of natural causes in 228 CE.
Historical evaluations
Contemporary
Cao Pi said: “These three dukes are all great men of one generation. Future generations will probably find it difficult to continue.”
Cao Zhi said: “Outstanding in debate and broad in knowledge, seen in different celebrations. Virtue truly fills the inside. Wisdom and strategy extend horizontally outside. Resolving doubts and dispelling stagnation, analyzing and dispersing complex questions. This is Minister of Works Wang.”
Later historians
Chen Shou wrote: “Wang Lang was learned and rich. They were all great men of one generation. When Wei first received the Mandate, they ascended to the Three Excellencies. How great!”
Legacy
Wang Lang is remembered as a key official who participated in establishing Wei.
His scholarship and Confucian learning are praised.
However, he is also remembered for being “scolded to death” by Zhuge Liang in Romance of the Three Kingdoms, though this is fictional.
Timeline
- Unknown: Born in Tan County, Donghai; originally named Wang Yan; studied under Yang Ci; appointed Gentleman; served as Magistrate of Ziqiu; Yang Ci died; resigned to observe mourning; recommended as Filial and Incorrupt; did not respond to summons; recommended as Maocai by Tao Qian; appointed Clerk
- 193 CE: Together with Zhao Yu suggested Tao Qian send envoy to emperor; appointed Administrator of Kuaiji; abolished improper sacrifice to Qin Shi Huang; served for four years; gained people’s support
- 196 CE: Sun Ce attacked Kuaiji; Yu Fan suggested avoiding; decided to resist; arrayed forces at Guling; repelled Sun Ce several times; defeated by Sun Jing’s strategy; fled to Jiaozhou; pursued by Sun Ce; surrendered; treated with courtesy by Sun Ce; refused to serve Sun Ce; exiled and relocated; impoverished; took in relatives and friends
- 198 CE: Summoned by Cao Cao; set out from Qu’a; travelled for several years; arrived at Xuchang; appointed Remonstrant Gentleman; concurrently Army Adviser to the Minister over the Masses
- 213 CE: Wei dukedom established; served as Army Sacrificer and concurrently Administrator of Wei Commandery; successively served as Supervisor of the Palace, Minister of Ceremonies, and Court of Judicial Review; became famous for handling criminal cases
- 220 CE: Transferred to Palace Attendant Imperial Secretary; enfeoffed as Marquis of Anling; memorialized advising Cao Pi to lighten criminal law; Cao Pi became emperor; changed to Minister over the Masses; advanced to Marquis of Leping; remonstrated about Cao Pi’s hunting
- 221 CE: Advised about Wu-Shu war; suggested waiting until stalemate; Cao Pi followed
- ?: Advised about Sun Deng; suggested strengthening border garrisons; Cao Pi campaigned but withdrew
- 226 CE: Advanced to Marquis of Lanling; fief one thousand two hundred households; transferred to Minister of Works; remonstrated against constructing palaces
- 228 CE: Died; posthumous Marquis Cheng
- 243 CE: Honoured to be enshrined in Cao Cao’s temple
See also
References
- Chen Shou. Records of the Three Kingdoms, Volume 13, Biography of Zhong, Hua, Wang.
- Luo Guanzhong. Romance of the Three Kingdoms, various chapters.