Three Kingdoms and Six Dynasties · Official and General

Wang Zhi 王質

Wáng Zhì

c. AD 511 - AD 570

Passages: 17
Chapters: 2
Histories: 2

Overview

Wang Zhi was an official and General.

Other names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Courtesy name	Zizhen	子貞	Zǐzhēn
Posthumous name	Anzi	安子	Ānzǐ

Life and dates

Death

AD 570 太建二年
Directly stated · Book of Chen 18, passage 125

Age

60
Reckoning Sui
Directly stated · Book of Chen 18, passage 125

Attested activity

AD 548 太清二年
Dated from the passage context · Book of Liang 32, passage 140
AD 561 天嘉二年
Dated from the passage context · Book of Chen 18, passage 121
AD 570 太建二年
Dated from the passage context · Book of Chen 18, passage 125
AD 547 太清元年
Dated from the passage context · Book of Chen 18, passage 104
AD 558 永定二年
Dated from the passage context · Book of Chen 18, passage 116

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Kin of Emperor Wu of Liang (梁武帝)
sister's son 甥 · maternal line · Through Mother of Wang Zhi (王質母)
Directly stated · Book of Chen 18, passage 99
Child of Mother of Wang Zhi (王質母)
mother 母
Directly stated · Book of Chen 18, passage 101
Sibling of Wang Tong (王通)
younger brother 弟 · Full siblings
Directly stated · Book of Chen 18, passage 97

Key source chapters

Career and standing

Head of the ministry of war 五兵尚書
Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Chen 18, passage 119
Inspector of Wu 吳州刺史
Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Chen 18, passage 113
Right chief clerk and administrator of Hedong 右長史，帶河東太守
Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Chen 18, passage 111
Fleet Commander at Caishi 水軍
AD 548 太清二年 · Held
Directly stated · Book of Liang 32, passage 140
Marquis of Jiakou 甲口亭侯
Enfeoffed
Directly stated · Book of Chen 18, passage 99

Places and affiliations

Chen
Relation Served
Directly stated · Book of Chen 18, passages 116, 119
Liang
Relation Served
Directly stated · Book of Chen 18, passages 99, 104

Learning and skills

Institution National University 國子 · Subject Book of Changes 周易
Directly stated · Book of Chen 18, passage 99
Earned
Credential high rank in archery examination 射策高第
Directly stated · Book of Chen 18, passage 99
Belief Buddhism 桑門 · Relation Temporary ordination
Directly stated · Book of Chen 18, passage 109

Events and relationships

Became monk to hide
Religious · Subject
Directly stated · Book of Chen 18, passage 109
Mourned mother
Mourning · Mourner
Directly stated · Book of Chen 18, passage 101
Northern campaign
Military · Commander · With Xiao Yuanming (蕭淵明)
Directly stated · Book of Chen 18, passage 104
Spared
Legal · Accused · With Zhou Wenyu (周文育)
Directly stated · Book of Chen 18, passage 117
Withdrew
Military · Commander · With Hou Jing (侯景)
Directly stated · Book of Chen 18, passage 107
Relation Friend of · Person Wang Lin (王琳)
Directly stated · Book of Chen 18, passage 117

Assessments and attributes

Assessment known for filial piety · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Book of Chen 18, passage 101

References in the histories

Search passages

History

17 passages

Book of Chen, Chapter 18Volume 18: Shen Zhong; Yuan Bi; Liu Zhongwei; Lu Shancai; Wang Zhi; Wei Zai · 15 passages

沈眾袁泌劉仲威陸山才王質韋載族弟翽 Shen Zhong; Yuan Bi; Liu Zhongwei; Lu Shancai; Wang Zhi; Wei Zai; younger clansman Hui

王質字子貞，右光祿大夫通之弟也。 Wang Zhi, styled Zizhen, was the younger brother of right grand master of the golden sigil Tong.

梁世以武帝甥封甲口亭侯，補國子周易生，射策高第。 Under Liang, as the emperor's sister's son, he was enfeoffed as Marquis of Jiakou and studied the Book of Changes at the national university, ranking high in the archery examination.

及貞陽敗績，質脫身逃還。 When Zhenyang was beaten, Zhi slipped away and returned.

侯景於壽陽構逆，質又領舟師隨眾軍拒之。 When Hou Jing rebelled at Shouyang, Zhi again led the river fleet with the allied armies to block him.

景軍濟江，質便退走。 When Jing's army crossed the Yangzi, Zhi at once fell back.

景軍至京師，質不戰而潰，乃翦髮為桑門，潛匿人間。 When Jing's army reached the capital, Zhi did not fight; his troops broke and he shaved his head as a monk and hid among the people.

及柳仲禮等會援京邑，軍據南岸，質又收合餘眾從之。 When Liu Zhongli and others united to relieve the capital, their army held the south bank. Zhi again gathered the remnant troops and joined them.

荊州陷，侯瑱鎮于湓城，與質不協，遣偏將羊亮代質，且以兵臨之，質率所部，度信安嶺，依于留異。 When Jing province fell, Hou Tian held Tangcheng and clashed with Zhi. He sent the subordinate general Yang Liang to replace him and advanced with troops. Zhi led his command over the Xin'an Ridge and joined Liu Yi.

文帝鎮會稽，以兵助質，令鎮信安縣。 When Emperor Wen held Kuaiji he sent troops to aid Zhi and had him guard Xin'an county.

永定二年，高祖命質率所部踰嶺出豫章，隨都督周文育以討王琳。 In the second year of Yongding (558) the Founder ordered Zhi to lead his command over the mountains into Yuzhang and follow Commander Zhou Wenyu against Wang Lin.

質與琳素善，或譖云於軍中潛信交通，高祖命周文育殺質，文育啟請救之，獲免。 Zhi and Lin had long been friends. Some accused him of secret correspondence with Lin in the field. The Founder ordered Zhou Wenyu to execute him; Wenyu pleaded for his life and he was spared.

高宗為揚州刺史，以質為仁威將軍、驃騎府長史。 When Emperor Xuan was inspector of Yangzhou he made Zhi general of benevolent prestige and chief clerk to the flying cavalry.

高宗輔政，以為司徒左長史，將軍如故。 When Emperor Xuan was regent he made Zhi left chief clerk to the minister of education, retaining his general's title.

贈本官，諡曰安子。 He was posthumously given his former rank, with the posthumous name Anzi.

Book of Liang, Chapter 32Volume 32: Chen Qingzhi; Lan Qin · 2 passages

太清二年，侯景圍歷陽，敕召昕還，昕啓云：「採石急須重鎮，王質水軍輕弱，恐慮不濟。」 In the second year of Taiqing, Hou Jing besieged Liyang. The court recalled Xin, but he reported, "Caishi needs a strong garrison at once. Wang Zhi's fleet is too light—I fear it will fail."

乃板昕爲雲騎將軍，代質，未及下渚，景已渡江，仍遣率所領遊防城外，不得入守。 He was hastily named General of Cloud Cavalry to replace Zhi. Before Xin reached Xiazhu, Jing had crossed the Yangzi. Xin was posted outside the walls on patrol and could not enter to defend.