Ming · Official and Censor-in-Chief

Wang Wen 王文

First attested AD 1450; died AD 1457

Passages: 10
Chapters: 2
Histories: 1

Overview

Wang Wen was an official and Censor-in-Chief.

Life and dates

Death

AD 1457 英宗復位
Executed
Directly stated · History of Ming 169, passages 27, 221

Attested activity

AD 1450 to AD 1456 景泰
Dated from the passage context · History of Ming 169, passage 9
AD 1457 景泰八年正月壬午
Directly stated · History of Ming 170, passage 204

Family

Kinship Role sons · Count 1
Directly stated · History of Ming 169, passage 26

Key source chapters

Career and standing

Grand Secretary 大學士
Held
Directly stated · History of Ming 170, passage 204
Entered
AD 1457 景泰八年正月壬午 · Imprisonment
Directly stated · History of Ming 170, passage 204
Sentenced
AD 1457 景泰八年正月壬午 · Treason conviction
Directly stated · History of Ming 170, passage 209

Events and relationships

Argued fiercely against false charges
AD 1457 景泰八年正月壬午 · Legal · Defendant
Directly stated · History of Ming 170, passage 210
Relation Co defendant with · Person Yu Qian (于謙)
Directly stated · History of Ming 170, passages 204, 209

References in the histories

Search passages

History

10 passages

History of Ming, Chapter 169Volume 169 Biographies 57: Gao Gu, Hu Ying, Wang Zhi · 8 passages

都御史王文不可。 The censor-in-chief Wang Wen would not agree.

王文由谷薦，數擠谷。 Wang Wen owed his rise to Gao Gu's recommendation yet repeatedly tried to undermine him.

陳循及文構考官劉儼、黃諫，帝命禮部會谷復閱試卷。 Chen Xun and Wang Wen framed the chief examiners Liu Yan and Huang Jian; the emperor ordered the Ministry of Rites, together with Gao Gu, to review the examination papers again.

帝乃賜循、文子中式，惟黜林挺一人，事得已。 The emperor then allowed the sons of Chen Xun and Wang Wen to pass the examinations, demoting only Lin Ting, and the matter was closed.

英宗復位，循、文等皆誅竄，谷謝病。 When Yingzong was restored to the throne, Chen Xun and Wang Wen and their party were put to death or exiled, and Gao Gu retired citing illness.

直與濙欲聞之帝，為都御史王文所阻，而給事中葉盛竟以聞。 Wang Zhi and Hu Ying wanted to report it to the throne but were stopped by Censor-in-Chief Wang Wen; supervising secretary Ye Sheng nevertheless brought it forward.

王文惡林聰，文致其罪，欲殺之。 Wang Wen hated Lin Cong, fabricated charges against him, and sought his death.

未上，而石亨、徐有貞等奪門迎上皇復位，殺王文等。 Before it was submitted, Shi Heng and Xu Youzhen seized the gate to restore Yingzong and killed Wang Wen and others.

History of Ming, Chapter 170Volume 170 Biographies 58: Yu Qian · 2 passages

景泰八年正月壬午，亨與吉祥、有貞等既迎上皇復位，宣諭朝臣畢，即執謙與大學士王文下獄。 On renwu day in the first month of Jingtai 8, after Heng, Jixiang, and Youzhen had restored the former emperor and addressed the court, they seized Qian and Grand Secretary Wang Wen and threw them into prison.

文不勝誣，辯之疾，謙笑曰：「亨等意耳，辯何益？」 Wen could not bear the false charges and argued fiercely; Qian smiled and said, "This is Heng's doing—what good is argument?"