Wang Jin (王縉) | 24 Histories

Overview

Wang Jin was an official and Statesman.

PeriodSui and Tang

IdentityHistorical · Male

Roles

Found in

Life and dates

Attested activity

AD 777 十二年三月
Dated from the passage context · Old Book of Tang 127, passage 67
AD 768 三年八月
Dated from the passage context · Old Book of Tang 112, passage 203
AD 762 to AD 779 代宗
Dated from the passage context · New Book of Tang 181, passage 233
AD 766 to AD 780 劉晏理財用事之世
Strongly inferred · Old Book of Tang 127, passage 256
AD 766 to AD 779 大歷
Dated from the passage context · New Book of Tang 161, passage 75
AD 763 to AD 764 廣德中
Dated from the passage context · Old Book of Tang 129, passages 121-122, 124

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AD 760 to AD 805 父縉
Strongly inferred · Old Book of Tang 160, passage 245

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Parent of Wang Zhixing (王智興)
father 父 · paternal line
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 160, passage 245
Child of Wang Gui (王瑰)
grandfather 祖 · paternal line
Strongly inferred · Old Book of Tang 160, passages 244-245
Sibling of Wang Hong (王竑)
younger brother 弟 · Uncertain siblings
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 129, passage 122

Key source chapters

Career and standing

Vice Director of the Secretariat and Concurrent Grand Councilor 門下侍郎、同平章事
AD 777 十二年三月 · Held
Dated from the passage context · Old Book of Tang 127, passage 67
Chief Minister 宰相
AD 763 to AD 764 廣德中 · Held
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 129, passage 122
Chief Minister 宰相
Held
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 181, passage 233
Supervisor of the Household of the Heir Apparent 太子詹事
Held
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 160, passage 245
guardian of the eastern capital 東都留守
Preceded
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 112, passage 203
Received
AD 777 十二年三月 · Sentence commuted · Authority Emperor Daizong (代宗)
Dated from the passage context · Old Book of Tang 127, passages 70-71

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punishment reduced 減罪
Received · With Liu Yan (劉晏)
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 127, passage 256

Places and affiliations

Polity Tang 唐 · Relation Served
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 112, passage 203; Old Book of Tang 127, passage 67; Old Book of Tang 129, passage 122
Polity Tang 唐 · Relation Served
Strongly inferred · Old Book of Tang 127, passage 256; Old Book of Tang 160, passage 245; New Book of Tang 181, passage 233
At Wen County, Huai Prefecture 懷州溫縣
Strongly inferred · Old Book of Tang 160, passages 242, 245

Works and attributed material

Speech · Quoted principal · Speaker Wang Hong (王竑) · Addressed to Xiao Fu (蕭復) · Direct quotation
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 129, passage 122

Events and relationships

Dismissed from office
Political · Authority · With Xiao Fu (蕭復)
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 129, passage 124
Persuaded emperor to establish inner dharma hall
AD 762 to AD 779 代宗 · Religious · Advisor · With Daizong (代宗)
Dated from the passage context · New Book of Tang 181, passage 233
Promoted ullambana and ancestral images in temples
Religious · Sponsor · With Daizong (代宗)
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 181, passage 233
Sought to obtain estate by office offer
Political · Principal · With Xiao Fu (蕭復)
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 129, passage 122
Spared execution through Liu Yan
AD 777 十二年三月 · Legal · Co defendant · With Liu Yan (劉晏)
Dated from the passage context · Old Book of Tang 127, passages 70-71
Relation Advisor of · Person Daizong (代宗)
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 181, passage 233

Assessments and attributes

Assessment his karma preaching and lavish Buddhist rites made rebel ministers laugh · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 181, passage 233

Source notes

Historicity historical
Directly stated · Old Book of Tang 127, passage 67; Old Book of Tang 129, passage 122

References in the histories

Search passages

History

10 passages

Old Book of Tang, Chapter 112Volume 108 Biographies 58: Wei Jiansu, Cui Yuan, Cui Huan, Du Hongjian · 1 passage

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三年八月，代王縉為東都留守，充河南、淮西、山南東道副元帥，平章事如故。 In the eighth month of the third year, he replaced Wang Jin as guardian of the eastern capital, deputy commander of Henan, Huaixi, and Shannan East, while retaining his grand councilorship.

Old Book of Tang, Chapter 127Volume 123 Biographies 73: Liu Yan, Di Wuqi, Ban Hong, Ban Shao, Li Xun · 4 passages

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初，晏承旨，門下侍郎、同平章事王縉亦處極法，晏謂涵等曰：重刑再覆，國之常典，況誅大臣，得不覆奏？ When Yan first received the order, Vice Director Wang Jin was also slated for execution; Yan told Han and the others: 'Heavy sentences require double review—that is state law; in executing a great minister, must we not report back for confirmation?'

及晏等覆奏，代宗乃減縉罪從輕。 When Yan and the others reported back, Emperor Daizong lightened Jin's sentence.

縉之生，晏平反之力也。 Jin owed his life to Yan's intervention.

舉真卿才，忠也，減王縉罪，正也，忠正之道，復出於人，嗚呼！ To recommend Yan Zhenqing showed loyalty; to lighten Wang Jin's punishment showed integrity. The virtues of loyalty and righteousness lived again in a single man—alas!

Old Book of Tang, Chapter 129Volume 125 Biographies 75: Zhang Yi, Liu Congyi, Xiao Fu, Liu Hun · 2 passages

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時宰相王縉聞其林泉之美，心欲之，乃使弟竑誘焉，曰：「足下之才，固宜居右職，如以別業奉家兄，當以要地處矣。」 Chief Minister Wang Jin heard of the beauty of its woods and springs and desired it. He had his younger brother Hong entice Fu, saying, "Your talent truly ought to occupy a high post. If you present the secondary estate to my elder brother, you will be placed in an important position."

縉憾之，乃罷復官。 Wang Jin resented this and dismissed Fu from office.

Old Book of Tang, Chapter 160Volume 156 Biographies 106: Yu Di, Han Hong, Wang Zhixing · 1 passage

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父縉，太子詹事。 His father Jin served as Supervisor of the Household of the Heir Apparent.

New Book of Tang, Chapter 161Volume 161 Biographies 86: Zhang, Zhao, Li, Zheng, Xu, Wang, Feng, Yu · 1 passage

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河南王縉引署副元帥府判官。 Henan governor Wang Jin recruited him as executive officer on the deputy commander's staff.

New Book of Tang, Chapter 181Volume 181 Biographies 106: Chen, Three Li's, Cao, Liu · 1 passage

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初，宰相王縉以緣業事佐代宗，於是始作內道場，晝夜梵唄，冀禳寇戎，大作盂蘭，肖祖宗像，分供塔廟，為賊臣嘻笑。 At first, Chief Minister Wang Jin supported Emperor Daizong with teachings about karma and merit. The palace then established an inner ritual sanctuary where Buddhist chants sounded day and night in hopes of warding off enemy armies. Grand Ullambana rites were held, images of the imperial ancestors were made and distributed among pagodas and temples, and rebel officials laughed at the spectacle.