Wei Yao 韋曜 Hongsi 弘嗣

Contents

Introduction

Wei Yao (韋曜), courtesy name Hongsi (弘嗣), was an Eastern Wu historian and official from Yunyang in Wu Commandery. His original name was Wei Zhao (韋昭); the Records of the Three Kingdoms uses “Wei Yao” to avoid the taboo of Jin’s Emperor Wen (Sima Zhao). He served in a series of posts including Magistrate of Xi’an, Gentleman of the Masters of Writing, Grand Tutor to the Heir’s Household, Prefect of the Gentlemen of the Yellow Gate, and under Sun Liang was made Prefect of the Histories (太史令) and charged with compiling the Wu shu (吳書) together with Hua He, Xue Ying, and others. Under Sun Xiu he was Director of the Secretariat (中書郎) and Libationer of the Erudites (博士祭酒), supervising the National Academy. Sun Hao enfeoffed him Marquis of Gaoling (高陵亭侯) and promoted him to Deputy Director of the Secretariat (中書僕射), Palace Attendant (侍中), and Left Director of the Histories (左國史). He refused Sun Hao’s demand to record Sun He in a “Basic Annals” (本紀), insisting Sun He had not been emperor and should appear in a “Biography” (傳). After repeated clashes and Wei Yao’s request to retire on grounds of age and illness, Sun Hao had him arrested in Fenghuang 2 (273), rejected Hua He’s plea for clemency, and had him executed; his family was exiled to Lingling. He is remembered for the Wu shu, the essay Discourse on Board Games (博弈論), Commentary on the Discourses of the States (國語注), and as the figure behind the saying “using tea instead of wine” (以茶代酒) at Sun Hao’s feasts. Chen Shou praised him as “devoted to learning and the past, widely read, with a historian’s talent.”

Biography

Early career and the Wu shu

Wei Yao was from Yunyang (雲陽), Wu Commandery (吳郡). In youth he was fond of study and skilled at writing. He served as Assistant in the Secretariat (丞相掾), then as Magistrate of Xi’an (西安令), Gentleman of the Masters of Writing (尚書郎), and Grand Tutor to the Heir’s Household (太子中庶子). While in the heir’s household with Cai Ying, who was fond of weiqi, the heir Sun He considered the game useless and had Wei Yao write an essay on the matter—the Discourse on Board Games (博弈論). After Sun He was deposed, Wei Yao became Prefect of the Gentlemen of the Yellow Gate (黃門侍郎). When Sun Liang became emperor, Zhuge Ke recommended Wei Yao as Prefect of the Histories (太史令) to compile the Wu shu (吳書); Hua He, Xue Ying, and others took part. Under Sun Xiu (258), Wei Yao was made Director of the Secretariat (中書郎) and Libationer of the Erudites (博士祭酒), in charge of the National Academy. Sun Xiu also had him collate books in the manner of Liu Xiang and considered making him a palace lecturer, but the Left General Zhang Bu, a favourite with many faults, feared Wei Yao would use past and present examples to admonish the sovereign and argued against the appointment; Sun Xiu was displeased with Zhang Bu, but Wei Yao never became palace lecturer.

Under Sun Hao: enfeoffment and conflict

When Sun Hao became emperor (264), he enfeoffed Wei Yao as Marquis of Gaoling (高陵亭侯), promoted him to Deputy Director of the Secretariat (中書僕射), then demoted him to Palace Attendant (侍中), and had him long serve concurrently as Left Director of the Histories (左國史). Sun Hao’s attendants often reported auspicious signs; when Sun Hao asked Wei Yao about them, Wei Yao replied they were “only things from someone’s box.” Sun Hao wanted to give his father Sun He a “Basic Annals” (本紀); Wei Yao insisted that Sun He had not been emperor and should only have a “Biography” (傳). This was repeated several times and Sun Hao grew angry. Wei Yao became anxious and, being ill and under medical care, pleaded old age and weakness and asked to be relieved of the lecturing and Left Director of the Histories duties so he could finish his writings; Sun Hao did not allow it.

“Tea instead of wine” and death (273)

At Sun Hao’s banquets, which often lasted all day, everyone was required to drink at least seven sheng of wine; those who could not finish were forced to drink. Wei Yao’s capacity was only about two sheng. While still favoured, Sun Hao sometimes reduced his quota or secretly gave him tea instead of wine—the origin of the phrase “using tea instead of wine” (以茶代酒). After he fell from favour, he was pressed to drink more and punished when he did not finish. Sun Hao also had attendants insult and interrogate officials after drinking and mock or expose their faults; any mistake or violation of Sun Hao’s taboos could lead to arrest or execution. Wei Yao thought that officials denouncing each other in public bred resentment and hindered cooperation, so in these sessions he only raised questions on the classics. Sun Hao decided Wei Yao was “not obeying the imperial will and not loyal” and had him arrested and imprisoned in Fenghuang 2 (273). Wei Yao submitted a petition for pardon through the jailers; Sun Hao was unmoved and criticised the document for ink stains. Hua He repeatedly memorialised to save him; Sun Hao refused and ordered Wei Yao executed. Wei Yao was in his seventies. His family was exiled to Lingling (零陵).

Personality and traits

Wei Yao was devoted to study and antiquity and widely read. He stood by the principle that Sun He should not be given a “Basic Annals,” and in banquets he avoided joining in the mockery of colleagues.

Political achievements

Compilation of the Wu shu (with Hua He, Xue Ying, Zhou Zhao, Liang Guang); Libationer of the Erudites and supervision of the National Academy under Sun Xiu; Left Director of the Histories under Sun Hao; refusal to record Sun He as “Basic Annals”; execution and exile of family (273).

Relationships

Sun Hao

Wei Yao refused to write Sun He as “Basic Annals,” dismissed auspicious omens as “things from a box,” and in banquets only discussed the classics. Sun Hao deemed him disloyal, imprisoned him, ignored Hua He’s pleas, and had him executed.

Hua He

Hua He worked with Wei Yao on the Wu shu and later submitted memorials begging Sun Hao to spare Wei Yao; Sun Hao did not accept.

Anecdotes and allusions

“Using tea instead of wine” (以茶代酒)

At Sun Hao’s feasts, guests were required to drink at least seven sheng. Wei Yao could drink only about two sheng. While favoured, Sun Hao had his quota reduced or gave him tea in place of wine. After he lost favour, he was forced to drink more and punished for not finishing.

Source: Sanguo zhi (三国志·韦曜传)
Type: Historical

Achievements

Documented: Wu shu (吳書) compilation; Discourse on Board Games (博弈論); Commentary on the Discourses of the States (國語注); Han shu yinyi (漢書音義); Dongji (洞記); Official Duties (官職訓); Sanwu jun guo zhi (三吳郡國志); Bianshi ming (辯釋名); Xiaojing jiezan (孝經解贊); Zhu Xiaojing Lunyu (注孝經論語); Chunqiu waizhuan Guoyu (春秋外傳國語); Libationer of the Erudites; Left Director of the Histories; execution (273).

Behind the scenes

Name

Wei Yao’s original name was Wei Zhao (韋昭). The Records of the Three Kingdoms writes 韋曜 to avoid the taboo of Sima Zhao (司馬昭), Emperor Wen of Jin.

Historical sources

Wei Yao’s biography is in the Records of the Three Kingdoms (三國志), “Biographies of Wang Fan, Lou Xuan, He Shao, Wei Yao, and Hua He” (吳書·王樓賀韋華傳), scroll 65. The Wu shu he compiled was a major source for the Sanguo zhi and for Pei Songzhi’s commentary.

Chen Shou’s evaluation

“韋曜篤學好古，博見群籍，有記述之才.”

Historical evaluations

Chen Shou