Wang Su 王肅 Ziyong 子雍

Contents

Biography

Early life and education

Wang Su was from Tan County, Donghai (in present-day Tancheng, Shandong). His courtesy name was Ziyong. He was the eldest son of Wang Lang. At age eighteen, he studied the Taixuan Jing (Classic of Great Mystery) under the great scholar Song Zhong and wrote a commentary on it.

Early career under Cao Pi and Cao Rui

During the Huangchu era (220–226), Wang Su served as Gentleman Cavalier Attendant. In 228, Wang Lang died, and Wang Su inherited his title of Marquis of Lanling. In 229, he was promoted to Palace Attendant Imperial Secretary.

In 230, when Grand Marshal Cao Zhen led an army to attack Shu Han, Wang Su submitted a memorial opposing the campaign. It happened that autumn rains were continuous and the plank roads were cut off, and Grand Commandant Hua Xin also submitted a memorial advising against it, so Cao Zhen and others withdrew. Wang Su also submitted a memorial saying: “We should follow the old rites and hold mourning for deceased ministers and present fruits to the ancestral temple.” These matters were all implemented. Wang Su also submitted memorials on the fundamentals of governance, suggesting that redundant officials should be dismissed or merged, unnecessary salaries reduced, and unnecessary expenses stopped. He also suggested restoring the ancient system of court audiences every five days.

In 234, when the Duke of Shanyang Liu Xie (Emperor Xian) died, Wang Su submitted a memorial suggesting that he should be given the posthumous title “Huang” (Emperor), but Cao Rui did not agree and posthumously granted him the title Emperor Xian of Han. Wang Su later served as Palace Attendant Imperial Secretary concurrently Supervisor of the Palace Library and Sacrificer of Chongwen Hall.

During the Jingchu era (237–239), Cao Rui greatly expanded the palaces, causing heavy burdens on the people and preventing them from focusing on agriculture. Service had no time limit, and punishments were too arbitrary. Wang Su submitted memorials remonstrating with Cao Rui and also suggested abandoning the grain and manpower spent on birds and beasts.

Cao Rui once discussed with Wang Su the memorial submitted by Li Yun, Magistrate of Baima in the Eastern Han, to Emperor Huan. Wang Su believed that although Li Yun’s words were somewhat extreme, Emperor Huan’s execution of Li Yun was also intolerant and not correct. They also discussed Sima Qian. Cao Rui believed that Sima Qian, after being castrated, wrote the Records of the Grand Historian with resentment to slander Emperor Wu of Han. Wang Su believed that Sima Qian was a good historian and that it was Emperor Wu himself who, after reading the annals of Emperor Jing and himself, deeply resented Sima Qian, not the other way around.

Service under Cao Fang

In 240, Wang Su was appointed Administrator of Guangping. Later, he was recalled to court due to official business and served as Gentleman Consultant. Soon after, he was transferred to Palace Attendant and then promoted to Grand Master of Ceremonies. At this time, Grand General Cao Shuang monopolized power and heavily employed He Yan, Deng Yang, and others. Wang Su once discussed current affairs with Grand Commandant Jiang Ji and Grand Minister of Agriculture Huan Fan. Wang Su said seriously: “These people are of the same type as Hong Gong and Shi Xian (notorious eunuchs of the Han). Are they worth praising?” When Cao Shuang heard of this, he warned He Yan and others: “You should all be careful! The dukes and ministers have already compared you to the evil men of previous generations.” Wang Su was later dismissed from Grand Master of Ceremonies due to an error in ancestral temple sacrifice, then served as Grand Master of Ceremonies again.

Prediction and service under Cao Mao

In 252, two fish, each one chi long, leaped onto the roof of the armory. Many people considered this an auspicious omen. Wang Su said: “Fish should live in water, but now they are on the roof. This is an armored creature losing its place of survival. Could it be that border generals are about to suffer defeat?” Soon after, the Eastern Pass campaign indeed failed. Wang Su was transferred to Administrator of Henan.

In 254, Sima Shi deposed Cao Fang and had Wang Su, holding credentials, concurrently serve as Grand Master of Ceremonies and escort the imperial carriage to welcome Cao Mao, Duke of Gaogui Township, at Yuancheng. That year, a white qi passed through the sky. Sima Shi asked Wang Su about the cause of this phenomenon. Wang Su replied: “This is Chi You’s banner. There will be rebellion in the southeast. If you personally pacify the people, then the realm will be pacified and submit, and the rebellion will be destroyed first.”

In the spring of 255, when General Who Guards the East Guanqiu Jian and Inspector of Yang Province Wen Qin raised troops in rebellion, Sima Shi asked Wang Su for advice. Wang Su believed that the families of the Huainan officers and soldiers were all in the interior, so if troops were quickly sent to block their advance, their army would collapse. Sima Shi adopted Wang Su’s strategy and eventually defeated Guanqiu Jian and Wen Qin, pacifying the rebellion.

Wang Su was later promoted to Central Army Leader, concurrently Palace Attendant, with his fief increased by 300 households, making a total of 2,200 households.

Death

In 256, Wang Su died at age 62. Several hundred of his students attended his funeral. The court posthumously granted him General Who Guards the Army and the posthumous title Marquis Jing. His son Wang Hun succeeded to the marquis title, but after Wang Hun died without an heir, the fief was abolished. In 263, the court again enfeoffed Wang Su’s son Wang Xun as Marquis of Lanling.

Scholarship and influence

Wang Su was a classical scholar who annotated many classics and opposed Zheng Xuan’s school of thought. His annotations, known as “Wang Learning” (王学), were officially adopted. He compiled the Kongzi Jiayu (Sayings of Confucius) and Kong Congzi to promote moral values and incorporate Confucian ideals into official learning. His scholarship influenced Wang Bi, He Yan, and other representatives of Wei-Jin metaphysics.

Wang Su also made many political suggestions, advocating light corvée, pacifying the people, careful punishment, emphasis on trust, promoting frugality, and simplifying palaces. These proposals were beneficial to the people who had suffered from warfare at the end of the Eastern Han.

Historical evaluations

Chen Shou: “Wang Su was upright and knowledgeable, able to analyze matters clearly.”
Pei Songzhi (quoting Liu Shi): “Wang Su was correct in serving superiors but liked those below who flattered him—this is one contradiction. He was fond of glory and rank but did not seek improper connections—this is two contradictions. He was stingy with wealth but did not corrupt himself—this is three contradictions.”

References

Records of the Three Kingdoms, Volume 13, Biography of Wang Lang
Records of the Three Kingdoms, Volume 28, Biography of Guanqiu Jian