Wang Lang 王朗

Wang Lang, courtesy name Jingxing, was a man of Donghai Commandery. Through his mastery of the classics he became a Gentleman of the Palace and was appointed Chief of Ziqiu. He studied under the Grand Commandant Yang Ci, and when Yang Ci died he left office to wear mourning for him. He was recommended as Filial and Incorrupt and summoned by the offices of the high ministers, but did not respond. He became famous together with Zhang Zhao and Zhao Yu and was on friendly terms with them, and he was praised for discussing with Zhang Zhao the matter of the taboo names of former rulers. Records, Wei 13 §44Records, Wei 7 §35Records, Wu 7 §2

Tao Qian, the Inspector of Xu Province, recommended him as Abundant Talent. At that time Emperor Xian was in Chang'an and armies had risen east of the passes, and Wang Lang, as Tao Qian's Attendant Officer, together with the Attendant Officer with Separate Carriage Zhao Yu and others, persuaded Tao Qian to send an envoy to receive the royal command, saying that 'nothing wins the trust of the lords like exerting oneself for the royal house.' When Tao Qian sent Zhao Yu to Chang'an, the Son of Heaven made Tao Qian General Who Pacifies the East, Zhao Yu Administrator of Guangling, and Wang Lang Administrator of Kuaiji. While he was in Kuaiji, his old friend Xu Jing came to rely on him. Records, Wei 13 §44–45Records, Shu 8 §4

When Sun Ce crossed the river and overran the land, the Officer of Merit Yu Fan, though in mourning, came to advise him to withdraw, since he could not hold out by force. Wang Lang said that as an official of the Han he must defend his city, and raised troops. He held Sun Ce off at Guling and withstood repeated attacks across the water, but when Sun Ce, following Sun Jing's plan, went out by night along the Zhadu road and attacked the camp at Gaoqian, he was greatly alarmed and sent out Zhou Xin, the former Administrator of Danyang, and others. Sun Ce defeated Zhou Xin and the others, beheaded them, and pacified Kuaiji. Records, Wei 13 §45Records, Wu 12 §2Records, Wu 6 §2–4

Wang Lang fled by sea to Dongye, with Yu Fan following to guard him. Shang Sheng, Chief of Houguan, also raised troops on Wang Lang's behalf. When Sun Ce pursued and crushed them, Wang Lang submitted to Sun Ce. Sun Ce, regarding him as a deeply learned and refined scholar, only reproached him and did him no harm. Wang Lang told Yu Fan that since he had an aged mother he might go home. Though he wandered in such poverty that in the morning he could not plan for the evening, he took in relatives and old friends, sharing out what was plentiful and dividing what was scarce. Records, Wei 13 §45–46Records, Wu 12 §2–3Records, Wu 15 §3

When Cao Cao memorialised to summon him, he drifted about the rivers and seas from Qu'e and arrived only after several years. He became Grandee Remonstrant and Adviser to the Army of the Minister of Works, and when the state of Wei was established he served as Libationer of the Army concurrently holding the post of Administrator of Wei Commandery, and was transferred to Minister Steward, Minister of Ceremonies and Minister of Justice. He handled trials leniently, choosing the lighter penalty when guilt was doubtful, and together with Zhong Yao, who was clear-sighted and kept to the law, he was praised for his administration of justice. When Cao Cao had the restoration of mutilating punishments discussed, Wang Lang and others said they could not yet be put into effect, and the matter was shelved. Records, Wei 13 §47Records, Wei 22 §18

When Cao Pi became King of Wei, Wang Lang was transferred to Imperial Counsellor and enfeoffed as Marquis of Anling Village. In a memorial urging him to nurture the people and reduce punishments, he said that if those who tried cases got at the truth there would be no prisoners dying unjustly, and that if the people were cared for, with marriages at the proper time and exemption from labour service for households with newborn infants, then after ten years the lanes would be full of girls of hairpin age and after twenty years the fields would be full of men fit to fight. Records, Wei 2 §2Records, Wei 13 §48–51

When Cao Pi ascended the imperial throne, Wang Lang became Minister of Works and was advanced to Marquis of Leping District. When the emperor went hunting and returned only after dark, he submitted a memorial of remonstrance, and the emperor replied that since the two bandits had not yet been destroyed he wished to practise military preparedness, yet still had the warning against returning at night put into effect. Cao Pi said of Zhong Yao, Hua Xin and Wang Lang, 'These three Excellencies are the great men of an age; later generations will find it hard to follow them.' Records, Wei 13 §52–53 · 10

At the end of Jian'an, when Sun Quan called himself a vassal and fought Liu Bei, and there was discussion of attacking Shu together with Wu, Wang Lang said that the Son of Heaven's army should stand unmoving like a mountain and that with the rains at their height it was not the time, and the emperor followed him. In the Huangchu era he recommended the Grandee of Splendid Happiness Yang Biao and pleaded illness to yield his post to him, but was dissuaded by edict. When Sun Quan failed to keep his promise to send his son Sun Deng to attend at court and the emperor meant to campaign east, Wang Lang tried to stop him, saying that raising an army would mean moving much to gain little. The emperor set out nonetheless, but turned back on reaching the Yangtze. Records, Wei 13 §54–59

When Cao Rui ascended the throne, Wang Lang, as Minister of Works, carried the tally to announce Empress Wenzhao's posthumous title at her tomb, and was advanced to Marquis of Lanling with a fief of 1,200 households. After going to Ye to inspect Empress Wenzhao's tomb, he returned and, concerning the building of palaces, submitted a memorial citing the frugality of Yu the Great, Goujian, and Emperors Wen and Jing of Han, saying that there were already enough halls for court use and the rest should wait for a good harvest. In the 12th month of the 7th year of Huangchu (226) he became Minister over the Masses. Records, Wei 5 §21Records, Wei 13 §60–64Records, Wei 3 §4

When the Grand Tutor Zhong Yao proposed reducing the death penalty and restoring mutilating punishments, the Minister over the Masses Wang Lang said that mutilation had been abolished for several hundred years and that reviving it would only spread rumours to the ears of the enemy, and proposed commuting death sentences to head-shaving and increasing the years of penal labour. Of the more than one hundred who took part in the discussion, many agreed with Wang Lang. When the emperor lost several sons, Wang Lang submitted a memorial saying that small children should not be dressed too warmly, and was praised by the emperor. When he summoned Wang Ji but Wang Ling, the Inspector of Qing Province, would not release him, Wang Lang also submitted a letter impeaching him. Records, Wei 13 §14–17 · 65–68Records, Wei 27 §49

He wrote commentaries on the Changes, the Spring and Autumn Annals, the Classic of Filial Piety and the Offices of Zhou, and his memorials, discussions, treatises and records all circulated in the world. He died in the 11th month of the 2nd year of Taihe (228), was given the posthumous name Marquis Cheng, and was succeeded by his son Wang Su. Earlier, when Cao Pi meant to divide his fief to enfeoff one of his sons as a full marquis, Wang Lang asked that his elder brother's son Wang Xiang be enfeoffed instead. Later, by edict, scholars were examined on his commentary on the Changes, and in the 4th year of Zhengshi (243) he was honoured with a place in the ancestral temple of the Grand Progenitor. Records, Wei 13 §68–69Records, Wei 3 §10Records, Wei 4 §14 · 18

In his assessment, Chen Shou said that Zhong Yao was broad-minded and capable in affairs, Hua Xin pure and unmixed and of simple virtue, and Wang Lang widely read and richly learned, and that all were outstanding men of their age. He wrote that when Wei first founded the state they rose for the first time to the Three Excellencies, and how splendid that was. Records, Wei 13 §99