Qin and Han · Marquis of Hongyang and maternal uncle of the emperor

Wang Li 王立

Attested BC 32 - BC 8

Passages: 22
Chapters: 5
Histories: 1

Overview

Wang Li was a Marquis of Hongyang and maternal uncle of the emperor.

Life and dates

Death

killed himself from shame and fear 慚恐自殺
Directly stated · Book of Han 94, passage 56

Attested activity

c. BC 20 to c. BC 8 紅陽侯立
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 70, passages 197, 246
BC 8 莽遂代根為大司馬
Directly stated · Book of Han 105, passages 149, 157
BC 32 賜舅王譚、商、立、根、逢時爵關內侯
Directly stated · Book of Han 11, passage 16

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Kin of Emperor Xiaocheng (孝成皇帝)
maternal uncle 舅 · maternal line
Directly stated · Book of Han 11, passage 16
Sibling of Wang Gen (王根)
full elder brother 同產兄 · Full siblings
brother 兄弟 · Full siblings
Sources vary in certainty · Book of Han 70, passage 264; Book of Han 11, passages 15-16, 316
Sibling of Wang Shang (王商)
brother 兄弟 · Full siblings
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 11, passages 15-16, 316
Sibling of Lady Chunyu (淳于氏)
elder sister 老姊 · Full siblings
Directly stated · Book of Han 70, passage 197
Parent of Rong (融)
heir son 嗣子
Directly stated · Book of Han 105, passage 151
Sibling of Empress Wang (王皇后)
maternal uncle 舅 · Full siblings
Directly stated · Book of Han 11, passage 16
Parent of Son of Wang Li
son 子
Directly stated · Book of Han 70, passage 246

Key source chapters

Book of Han, Chapter 94 Volume 83: Xue Xuan and Zhu Bo 7 passages
Book of Han, Chapter 70 Volume 60: Du Zhou 6 passages
Book of Han, Chapter 88 Volume 77: Gai, Zhuge, Liu, Zheng, Sun, Wujiang and He 4 passages
Book of Han, Chapter 105 Volume 93: Flatterers 4 passages
Book of Han, Chapter 11 Volume 10: Annals of Emperor Cheng 1 passage

Career and standing

Marquis Within the Passes 關內侯
BC 32 建始元年 · Granted
Directly stated · Book of Han 11, passage 16
Marquis of Hongyang 紅陽侯
Directly stated · Book of Han 70, passages 197, 246
Marquis of Hongyang 紅陽侯
Directly stated · Book of Han 94, passage 256
Marquis of Hongyang
Directly stated · Book of Han 88, passage 302
Reason guilt · Result sent to fief
Directly stated · Book of Han 94, passage 257

Places and affiliations

Polity Western Han 西漢 · Relation Associated with
Directly stated · Book of Han 11, passage 16
Polity Western Han 西漢 · Relation Attested in
Directly stated · Book of Han 105, passage 118
BC 8 莽遂代根為大司馬
At his state 國 · Relation Sent to
Directly stated · Book of Han 105, passage 157

Works and attributed material

Letter · Speaker · Mode direct-attribution Speaker Wang Li (王立) · Addressed to Du Ye (杜業) · Topic Asked Du Ye not to pursue old grievances against Chunyu Chang.
Directly stated · Book of Han 70, passage 197

Events and relationships

Failed to obtain grand marshal regency
Political · Disappointed candidate
Directly stated · Book of Han 105, passage 149
Ordered son to suicide
Legal · Orderer · With Rong (融)
Directly stated · Book of Han 105, passage 153
Spoke for Chang
Political · Advocate · With Chunyu Chang (淳于長)
Directly stated · Book of Han 105, passage 151
Relation Enemy of · Person Chunyu Chang (淳于長)
Directly stated · Book of Han 105, passage 149

Source notes

Historicity historical
Directly stated · Book of Han 11, passage 16; Book of Han 105, passage 280

References in the histories

Search passages

History

22 passages

Book of Han, Chapter 11Volume 10: Annals of Emperor Cheng · 1 passage

賜舅王譚、商、立、根、逢時爵關內侯。 Granted his maternal uncles Wang Tan, Shang, Li, Gen, and Fengshi the noble rank of Marquis Within the Passes.

Book of Han, Chapter 70Volume 60: Du Zhou · 6 passages

會定陵侯長有罪，當就國，長舅紅陽侯立與業書曰：「誠哀老姊垂白，隨無狀子出關，願勿復用前事相侵。」 When Chunyu Chang was ordered to his fief for crimes, his uncle Wang Li, the marquis of Hongyang, wrote to Du Ye: "My poor white-haired sister must follow her worthless son through the pass—please do not use old scores against him."

丞相史搜得紅陽侯書，奏業聽請，不敬，坐免就國。 A clerk in the chancellor's office found Wang Li's letter and impeached Du Ye for honoring an improper request; Ye was stripped of rank and sent to his fief.

紅陽侯立坐子受長貨賂故就國耳，非大逆也，而方進復奏立黨友後將軍朱博、巨鹿太守孫宏、故少府陳咸，皆免官，歸咸故郡。 Wang Li, marquis of Hongyang, was punished because his son accepted Chang's bribes and therefore went to his fief—this was not great treason. Yet Fangjin again memorialized against Li's partisan associates: Rear General Zhu Bo, Administrator of Julu Sun Hong, and former Chamberlain for the Palace Revenues Chen Xian. All were dismissed, and Chen Xian was sent to his native commandery.

刑罰無平，在方進之筆端，眾庶莫不疑惑，皆言孫宏不與紅陽侯相愛。 Punishment lacked fairness—it lay at the tip of Fangjin's brush. The common people were all puzzled and said Sun Hong was not on friendly terms with the marquis of Hongyang.

為丞相，即時詆欺，奏免咸，復因紅陽侯事歸咸故郡。 As chancellor he immediately slandered and memorialized to dismiss Xian, and again through the marquis of Hongyang affair sent Xian back to his native commandery.

內嫉妒同產兄姊紅陽侯立及淳于氏，皆老被放棄。 Within his own family he resented his elder brother Wang Li, marquis of Hongyang, and his elder sister Lady Chunyu, abandoning both in their old age.

Book of Han, Chapter 88Volume 77: Gai, Zhuge, Liu, Zheng, Sun, Wujiang and He · 4 passages

時帝舅紅陽侯立使客因南郡太守李尚占墾草田數百頃，頗有民所假少府陂澤，略皆開發，上書願以入縣官。 At the time, the emperor's maternal uncle Wang Li, Marquis of Hongyang, had retainers use Nan Commandery Administrator Li Shang's influence to claim several hundred qing of uncultivated land. Much of it was marshland that the Privy Treasurer had leased to commoners and that they had already reclaimed. Wang Li then memorialized offering it to the government.

寶聞之，遣丞相史按驗，發其姦，劾奏立、尚懷姦罔上，狡猾不道。 Sun Bao sent a chancellor's investigator, exposed the fraud, and impeached Li and Shang for deceiving the throne.

立雖不坐，後兄大司馬衞將軍商薨，次當代商，上度立而用其弟曲陽侯根爲大司馬票騎將軍。 Wang Li escaped punishment, but when his brother Wang Shang died the emperor skipped him and made Wang Gen Grand Marshal instead.

寶前失車騎將軍，與紅陽侯有隙，自恐見危，時淳于長方貴幸，友寶，寶亦欲附之，始視事而長以稚季托寶，故寶窮，無以復應文。 Sun Bao feared Hongyang and needed Chunyu Zhang—who had just asked him to spare Du Zhiji—so he could not touch Hou Wen's target.

Book of Han, Chapter 94Volume 83: Xue Xuan and Zhu Bo · 7 passages

池陽令舉廉吏獄掾王立，府未及召，聞立受囚家錢。 The magistrate of Chiyang nominated jail clerk Wang Li for an incorrupt award; before the summons arrived, word spread that Wang had taken money from a prisoner's kin.

宣責讓縣，縣案驗獄掾，乃其妻獨受系者錢萬六千，受之再宿，獄掾實不知。 Xue Xuan rebuked the county; their inquiry showed that Wang Li's wife alone had accepted sixteen thousand cash from a detainee's family for two nights, while Wang himself knew nothing.

宣聞之，移書池陽曰：「縣所舉廉吏獄掾王立，傢俬受賕，而立不知，殺身以自明，立誠廉士，甚可閔惜！ Hearing this, Xue Xuan wrote to Chiyang: "Wang Li was nominated as incorrupt, yet someone in his household secretly took a bribe without his knowledge; he died to prove his innocence—a truly honest man, and deeply to be mourned!

其以府決曹掾書立之柩，以顯其魂。 Let the headquarters decision clerk inscribe his name on the coffin to honor his spirit.

府掾史素與立相知者，皆予送葬。」 Every yamen clerk who knew him should join the funeral cortege."

久之，遷後將軍，與紅陽侯立相善。 Promoted rear general, he grew close to Liu Li, Marquis of Hongyang.

立有罪就國，有司奏立黨友，博坐免。 When Liu Li was sent to his fief for crimes, the authorities listed Zhu Bo among his partisans and cashiered him.

Book of Han, Chapter 105Volume 93: Flatterers · 4 passages

紅陽侯立獨不得為大司馬輔政，立自疑為長毀譖，常怨毒長。 Wang Li, marquis of Hongyang, alone had been passed over for the regency; he was convinced Chang had slandered him and nursed a murderous grudge.

及長當就國也，立嗣子融從長請車騎，長以珍寶因融重遺立，立因為長言。 When Chang prepared to leave the capital, Wang Li's heir Rong asked him for horses and carriages; Chang funneled rare gifts through Rong, and Wang Li put in a good word.

史捕融，立令融自殺以滅口。 Clerks seized Rong; Wang Li ordered his own son to commit suicide to seal his lips.

紅陽侯立就國。 Wang Li, marquis of Hongyang, was packed off to his fief as well.