Wang Jin (王進) | 24 Histories

Overview

Wang Jin was a general.

PeriodFive Dynasties

IdentityHistorical · Male

Roles

Found in

Life and dates

Death

AD 954 顯德元年秋
Illness
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 49, passages 137-138

Attested activity

AD 951 周太祖入立
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 49, passage 135
AD 926 明宗
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 49, passage 132
AD 947 漢高祖
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 49, passages 133-134
AD 954 顯德元年秋
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 49, passages 137-138

Career and standing

company officer 軍校
Appointed
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 49, passage 133
commander of Fengguo army 奉國軍都指揮使
Held
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 49, passage 134
commander of right wing of Tiger Swift Army 虎捷右廂都指揮使
Held
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 49, passage 135
defender of Ru and Zheng 汝、鄭二州防禦使
Held
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 49, passage 136
military commissioner of Zhangde 彰德軍節度使
Held
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 49, passage 136
Grand Preceptor 太師
Posthumously granted
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 49, passage 138

Places and affiliations

At Liangxiang in Youzhou 幽州良鄉
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 49, passage 129
Organization Ningwei Guard 寧衞指揮 · Relation Assigned to
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 49, passage 132

Events and relationships

Gathered band
Banditry · Leader
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 49, passage 131
Raced to capital
Courier · Messenger · With Fu Yanchao (符彥超)
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 49, passage 132
Relation Recruited by · Person Fu Yanchao (符彥超)
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 49, passage 131

Assessments and attributes

Assessment held a commissioner’s baton merely for swift feet · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 49, passage 105
could run as fast as a galloping horse
Physical
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 49, passage 130

Source notes

顯德元年秋; one edition reads 初 instead of 秋
Field death-date · Witness 一本
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 49, passage 137

References in the histories

Search passages

History

10 passages

New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 49Volume 49 Miscellaneous Biographies 29: Di Guangye, Feng Hui, Huang Fuhui, Tang Jingsi, Wang Jin, Chang Si, Sun Fangjian · 10 passages

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王進 Wang Jin

王進，幽州良鄉人也。 Wang Jin came from Liangxiang in Youzhou.

彥超鎮安遠軍，軍中有變，遣進馳奏京師，明宗怪其來速，嘉其足力，以隸寧衞指揮。 Yanchao held Anyuan army when the camp mutinied. He sent Jin racing to the capital. Mingzong marveled at his speed and praised his legs, then assigned him to the Ningwei Guard.

漢高祖為侍衞親軍指揮使，以進為軍校。 When Han Gaozu commanded the Palace Guard, he made Jin a company officer.

高祖鎮河東，因以之從，每有急，遣進馳至京師，往返不過五六日，由是愈親愛之，累遷奉國軍都指揮使。 When Gaozu governed Hedong, Jin went with him. In every crisis Gaozu sent him racing to the capital—a round trip of five or six days at most. Gaozu grew ever fonder and raised him to commander of the Fengguo army.

予述舊史，至於王進之事，未嘗不廢書而嘆曰：甚哉，五代之君，皆武人崛起，其所與俱勇夫悍卒，各裂土地封侯王，何異豺狼之牧斯人也！ When I set down the old histories and came to Wang Jin, I never failed to lay aside the book and sigh: How extreme! Every ruler of the Five Dynasties was a warrior risen from the ranks; the bold and brutal men who rose with him carved out domains and were made marquises and kings—what but wolves herding sheep?

至如進者，徒以疾足善走而秉旄節，何其甚歟！ Jin held a commissioner’s baton for nothing but swift feet and a gift for running—how extreme is that!

如進等者，豈足道哉！ Men like Jin—what is there to speak of!

《易》否泰消長，君子小人常相上下，視在上者如進等，則其在下者可知矣。 The Changes tells how pi and tai wax and wane and gentleman and petty man trade places. When those on high are like Jin, those below may be guessed.

予書進事，所以哀斯人之亂，而見當時賢人君子之在下者，可勝道哉！ I record Jin’s story to mourn that chaos—and to show how many worthy men were kept below. What sighs could number them all!