Ancient China · Scholar

Wang Zhu 王蠋

Wáng Zhú

Died BC 284

Passages: 5
Chapters: 1
Histories: 1

Overview

Wang Zhu was a scholar.

Life and dates

Death

BC 284 燕之初入齊
suicide by hanging and snapping his neck 經其頸於樹枝，自奮絕脰而死
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 82, passage 69

Attested activity

BC 284 燕之初入齊
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 82, passage 60

Career and standing

commoner 布衣
Commoner
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 82, passage 70

Places and affiliations

Polity Qi 齊 · Relation Subject of
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 82, passages 60, 65
At Huayi 畫邑
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 82, passage 60
At Huayi 畫邑 · Relation Native of
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 82, passage 60

Learning and skills

Skill righteousness 義 · Level renowned
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 82, passages 60, 70

Works and attributed material

Speech · Speaker · Direct quotation
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 82, passages 64-68

Events and relationships

Refused generalship and enfeoffment
Political · Declining party
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 82, passages 61-62

Assessments and attributes

Assessment worthy · Mode named-source-report
Directly stated · Records of the Grand Historian 82, passage 60

References in the histories

Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 82Biography of Tian Dan · 5 passages

燕之初入齊，聞畫邑人王蠋賢，令軍中曰「環畫邑三十里無入」，以王蠋之故。 When Yan first entered Qi, they heard that a man named Wang Zhu of the town of Huayi was a worthy. The general ordered his army: "No one shall enter within thirty li of Huayi." This was done out of respect for Wang Zhu.

已而使人謂蠋曰：「齊人多高子之義，吾以子為將，封子萬家。」 Later, he sent a messenger to say to Wang Zhu: "Many of the people of Qi esteem your sense of righteousness. I wish to appoint you my general and enfeoff you with ten thousand households."

蠋固謝。 Wang Zhu firmly declined.

王蠋曰：「忠臣不事二君，貞女不更二夫。 Wang Zhu answered, "A loyal minister does not serve two lords, just as a virtuous woman does not take a second husband.

齊亡大夫聞之，曰：「王蠋，布衣也，義不北面於燕，況在位食祿者乎！」 When the exiled officials of Qi heard of this, they said, "Wang Zhu was a mere commoner, yet his sense of righteousness would not allow him to face north and submit to Yan. How much more should this be true of those of us who held office and drew a salary!"