Qin and Han · Official

Wang Tan 王譚

Attested BC 32 - BC 21

Passages: 10
Chapters: 3
Histories: 1

Overview

Wang Tan was an official.

Other names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Alternate name	Ping'a Tan	平阿侯譚

Life and dates

Death

後薨
En died after refusing the gate post
Directly stated · Book of Han 96, passage 311

Attested activity

BC 27 to BC 23 平阿侯譚
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 105, passage 225
BC 32 賜舅王譚、商、立、根、逢時爵關內侯
Directly stated · Book of Han 11, passage 16
BC 24 to BC 21 陽朔中
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 96, passages 256-257, 259, 268

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 Shang (王商)
brother 兄弟 · Full siblings
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 11, passages 15-16, 316
Sibling of Wang Feng (王鳳)
brother 兄弟 · Full siblings
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 11, passages 15-16, 316
Sibling of Wang Chong (王崇)
brother 兄弟 · Full siblings
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 11, passages 15-16, 316
Sibling of Empress Wang (王皇后)
maternal uncle 舅 · Full siblings
Directly stated · Book of Han 11, passage 16
Parent of Wang Quji (王去疾)
son 子
Directly stated · Book of Han 105, passage 225
Parent of Wang Hong (王閎)
Strongly inferred · Book of Han 105, passage 226

Key source chapters

Book of Han, Chapter 96 Volume 85: Gu Yong and Du Ye 8 passages
Book of Han, Chapter 11 Volume 10: Annals of Emperor Cheng 1 passage
Book of Han, Chapter 105 Volume 93: Flatterers 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 Ping'a 平阿侯
Held
Directly stated · Book of Han 105, passage 225
Marquis of Ping'a 平阿侯
Directly stated · Book of Han 96, passage 311
Marquis of Ping'a
平阿侯
Directly stated · Book of Han 96, passage 256

Places and affiliations

Polity Han 漢 · Relation Enfeoffed under
Directly stated · Book of Han 105, passage 225
Polity Western Han 西漢 · Relation Associated with
Directly stated · Book of Han 11, passage 16

Source notes

Historicity historical
Directly stated · Book of Han 11, passage 16; Book of Han 105, passage 225

References in the histories

Search passages

History

10 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 96Volume 85: Gu Yong and Du Ye · 8 passages

平阿侯譚年次當繼大將軍鳳輔政，尤與永善。 Marquis of Ping'a Tan, next in line to succeed Grand General Wang Feng, was especially close to Yong.

上從之，以音為大司馬車騎將軍，領尚書事，而平阿侯譚位特進，領城門兵。 The emperor agreed, making Yin grand marshal and general of chariots and cavalry with charge of masters-of-writing affairs, while Marquis of Ping'a Tan held special advancement and commanded the gate troops.

永聞之，與譚書曰：「君侯躬周召之德，執管晏之操，敬賢下士，樂善不倦，宜在上將久矣，以大將軍在，故抑鬱於家，不得舒憤。 Yong wrote to Tan: "You bear the virtue of the Duke of Zhou and Duke of Shao and the conduct of Guan Zhong and Yan Ying, honoring worthies and delighting in good without weariness—you should long have stood among the chief generals. While the grand general lived you were kept at home and could not vent your grievance.

譚得其書大感，遂辭讓不受領城門職。 Tan, deeply moved, declined and refused command of the gate troops.

由是譚、音相與不平。 From this Tan and Yin grew mutually resentful.

平阿侯譚不受城門職，後薨，上閔悔之，乃復令譚弟成都侯商位特進，領城門兵，得舉吏如將軍府。 Marquis of Ping'a Tan refused the gate command; after he died the emperor regretted it and made Tan's younger brother Marquis of Chengdu Shang special advancement commanding gate troops, with power to recommend clerks like a general's headquarters.

鄴見音前與平阿有隙，即說音曰：「鄴聞人情，恩深者其養謹，愛至者其求詳。 Ye saw Yin's old rift with Ping'a and urged him: "I have heard that deep grace calls for careful nurture and great love calls for thorough scrutiny.

永陳三七之戒，斯為忠焉，至其引申伯以阿鳳，隙平阿於車騎，指金、火以求合，可謂諒不足而談有餘者。 Gu Yong's "three-seven" warning was true loyalty; yet he cited Shen Bo to flatter Wang Feng, sowed strife with Ping'a, and read Venus and Mars to suit his patrons—candor thin, words many.

Book of Han, Chapter 105Volume 93: Flatterers · 1 passage

是時，成帝外家王氏衰廢，唯平阿侯譚子去疾，哀帝為太子時為庶子得幸，及即位，為侍中、騎都尉。 The Wangs who had dominated under Chengdi were spent; only Wang Quji, son of Marquis Tan of Ping'a, who had won favor as a shuzi cadet while Ai was heir apparent, rose with him to palace attendant and commandant of cavalry.