1
王湛
Wang Zhan
2
王湛，字處沖，司徒渾之弟也。 少有識度。 身長七尺八寸，龍顙大鼻，少言語。 初有隱德，人莫能知，兄弟宗族皆以為癡，其父昶獨異焉。 遭父喪，居於墓次。 服闋，闔門守靜，不交當世，沖素簡淡，器量隤然，有公輔之望。
Wang Zhan, courtesy name Chuchong, was the younger brother of Wang Hun, who served as minister of education. Even as a young man he displayed judgment and poise. He stood seven chi eight cun tall, with a prominent forehead and a large nose, and he seldom spoke. He concealed his worth at first, so others failed to see it; brothers and clansmen dismissed him as dull-witted, yet his father Wang Chang alone sensed something singular in him. On his father's death he mourned in a hut beside the grave. After the mourning period he shut his doors and lived in seclusion, avoiding contact with contemporary notables. Plain and undemonstrative, he carried himself with unhurried breadth, and observers looked to him as future material for the highest offices.
3
兄子濟輕之，所食方丈盈前，不以及淇。 湛命取菜蔬，對而食之。 濟嘗詣湛，見床頭有《周易》，問曰：「叔父何用此為？」 湛曰：「體中不佳時，脫復看耳。」 濟請言之。 湛因剖析玄理，微妙有奇趣，皆濟所未聞也。 濟才氣抗邁，於湛略無子侄之敬。 既聞其言，不覺栗然，心形俱肅。 遂留連彌日累夜，自視缺然，乃歎曰：「家有名士，三十年而不知，濟之罪也。」 既而辭去，湛送至門。 濟有從馬絕難乘，濟問湛曰：「叔頗好騎不？」 湛曰：「亦好之。」 因騎此馬，姿容既妙，回策如縈，善騎者無以過之。 又濟所乘馬，甚愛之，湛曰：「此馬雖快，然力薄不堪苦行。 近見督郵馬當勝，但芻秣不至耳。」 濟試養之，而與己馬等。 湛又曰：「此馬任重方知之，平路無以別也。」 於是當蟻封內試之，濟馬果躓，而督郵馬如常。 濟益歎，還白其父，曰：「濟始得一叔，乃濟以上人也。」 武帝亦以湛為癡，每見濟，輒調之曰：「卿家癡叔死未？」 濟常無以答。 及是，帝又問如初，濟曰：「臣叔殊不癡。」 因稱其美。 帝曰：「誰比？」 濟曰：「山濤以下，魏舒以上。」 時人謂湛上方山濤不足，下比魏舒有餘。 湛聞曰：「欲處我于季孟之間乎？」
His nephew Wang Ji looked down on him; though dishes covered the table before Ji, he never offered his uncle Wang Zhan a share (the graph in the text suggests Qi but means Zhan). Wang Zhan had plain vegetables brought and ate them alongside him. Once when Wang Ji called on him, he noticed the Book of Changes by the bed and asked, 'Uncle, why keep this?' Wang Zhan replied, 'When I feel poorly, I leaf through it—that is all.' Wang Ji pressed him to elaborate. Wang Zhan then unfolded abstruse doctrines with such subtlety and unexpected insight that Wang Ji had never heard their like. Brash and self-assured, Wang Ji had shown his uncle almost none of the deference expected between nephew and elder. After hearing him, Wang Ji was shaken to the core; inwardly and outwardly he came to full reverence. He stayed on for days and nights, suddenly feeling how wanting he was, and sighed, 'A true gentleman lived under our roof for thirty years and I never saw it—the fault is mine.' When he finally took his leave, Wang Zhan walked him to the gate. Wang Ji owned a notoriously unridden gelding and asked, 'Uncle, do you enjoy riding?' Wang Zhan said, 'I do.' He mounted the beast; his seat was superb and the reins moved in fluid circles—no accomplished rider could have outdone him. Wang Ji was devoted to another mount; Wang Zhan observed, 'That horse is swift but lacks stamina for long hard rides. The courier's horse I saw lately should be the better animal—it simply has not been properly fed.' Wang Ji tried feeding it as suggested and found it matched his own horse. Wang Zhan added, 'You only learn what such horses are worth under a heavy load; on flat ground they look the same.' They raced them up a modest slope: Wang Ji's horse stumbled while the courier's mount kept its footing. More astonished than ever, Wang Ji told his father, 'I have only now discovered my uncle—he is my superior in every way.' Emperor Wu too thought Wang Zhan simple-minded; whenever he saw Wang Ji he would jest, 'Has that dotard uncle of yours died yet?' Wang Ji usually had no reply. When the emperor put the same question again, Wang Ji answered, 'My uncle is anything but a fool.' He went on to praise his qualities. The emperor asked, 'Whom would you compare him to?' Wang Ji replied, 'Below Shan Tao, above Wei Shu.' Listeners felt Wang Ji still understated his uncle: Wang Zhan towered above Shan Tao, with ample margin left beyond Wei Shu. Hearing this, Wang Zhan remarked, 'So they mean to situate me between the lesser and the greater?'
4
湛少仕歷秦王文學、太子洗馬、尚書郎、太子中庶子，出為汝南內史。 卒，年四十七。 子承嗣。
Wang Zhan's early career took him through tutor to the Prince of Qin, attendant for the heir apparent, secretary in the masters-of-writing office, and palace aide to the heir apparent, before he left the capital as governor of Runan commandery. He died at forty-seven. His son Wang Cheng inherited his position.
6
子承
Wang Cheng (his son)
7
=承字安期。 清虛寡欲，無所修尚。 言理辯物，但明其指要而不飾文辭，有識者服其約而能通。 弱冠知名。 太尉王衍雅貴異之，比南陽樂廣焉。 永寧初，為驃騎參軍。 值天下將亂，乃避難南下。 遷司空從事中郎。 豫迎大駕，賜爵藍田縣侯。 遷尚書郎，不就。 東海王越鎮許，以為記室參軍。 雅相知重，敕其子毗曰：「夫學之所益者淺，體之所安者深。 閑習禮度，不如式瞻儀形； 諷味遺言，不若親承音旨。 王參軍人倫之表，汝其師之。」 在府數年，見朝政漸替，辭以母老，求出。 越不許。 久之，遷東海太守，政尚清淨，不為細察。 小吏有盜池不魚者，綱紀推之，承曰：「文王之囿與眾共之，池魚復何足惜耶！」 有犯夜者，為吏所拘，承問其故，答曰：「從師受書，不覺日暮。」 承曰：「鞭撻寧越以立威名，非政化之本。」 使吏送，令歸家。 其從容寬恕若此。
Wang Cheng, courtesy name Anqi, He was spare in habit and free from craving, pursuing no ostentatious cultivation. When he discussed ideas or analysed affairs he laid bare essentials without rhetorical flourish; discerning listeners admired how much clarity he packed into few words. He was already celebrated when he came of age. Grand Commandant Wang Yan esteemed him as exceptional and likened him to Yue Guang of Nanyang. Early in the Yongning era he served as military aide to the commander of agile cavalry. As the realm slid toward chaos he moved south to escape the storm. He was promoted to adviser on the staff of the minister of works. For joining the welcome of the imperial train he received the county marquisate of Lantian. He was offered a post as secretary in the masters-of-writing department but declined to serve. When Prince Sima Yue of Donghai held Xu, he named Wang Cheng secretary on his staff. Sima Yue trusted him deeply and told his son Pi, 'Book learning yields thin profit; what you absorb from a living example runs far deeper. Drilling etiquette in the abstract cannot compare with watching a master embody it. Parsing dead texts is nothing beside hearing the man's voice and intent in person. Adjutant Wang models what human excellence looks like—make him your teacher.' After several years on staff, watching central policy fray, he asked to leave on grounds of his mother's age. Sima Yue refused. Eventually he became governor of Donghai, ruling through restraint and avoiding petty scrutiny. When a clerk stole fish from the pond, his administrators pressed charges; Wang Cheng said, 'King Wen shared his hunting park with the people—why begrudge a few fish?' When someone broke curfew and was detained, Wang Cheng asked why and heard, 'I was studying with my tutor and lost track of dusk.' Wang Cheng answered, 'Flogging a diligent student like Ning Yue merely to strike fear is no foundation for humane rule.' He had the clerks escort the man home. Such was his unruffled magnanimity.
8
尋去官，東渡江。 是時道路梗澀，人懷危懼，承每遇艱險，處之夷然，雖家人近習，不見其憂喜之色。 既至下邳，登山北望，歎曰：「人言愁，我始欲愁矣。」 及至建鄴，為元帝鎮東府從事中郎，甚見優禮。 承少有重譽，而推誠接物，盡弘恕之理，故眾咸親愛焉。 渡江名臣王導、衛玠、周顗、庾亮之徒皆出其下，為中興第一。 年四十六卒，朝野痛惜之。 自昶至承，世有高名，論者以為祖不及孫，孫不及父。 子述嗣。
He soon resigned and crossed the Yangzi eastward. Travel was treacherous and fear widespread, yet whenever hardship arose Wang Cheng remained unruffled—those closest to him never caught pleasure or anxiety on his face. Reaching Xiapi, he climbed a hill, gazed north, and sighed, 'Others speak of grief—only now do I feel its pull.' At Jianye he served as staff adviser to Emperor Yuan's eastern command and received exceptional marks of favour. Already esteemed in youth, he treated people with open sincerity and generous forbearance, so everyone felt drawn to him. Even luminaries who had crossed the river—Wang Dao, Wei Jie, Zhou Yi, Yu Liang—ranked behind him; contemporaries judged him foremost among those who rebuilt the dynasty. He died at forty-six to widespread grief at court and beyond. From Wang Chang through Wang Cheng each generation enjoyed renown; critics held that the grandfather fell short of the grandson, yet the grandson still did not equal his father. His son Wang Shu inherited the title.
10
承子述
Wang Shu (son of Wang Cheng)
11
=述字懷祖。 少孤，事母以孝聞。 安貧守約，不求聞達。 性沈靜，每坐客馳辨，異端競起，而述處之恬如也。 少襲父爵。 年三十，尚未知名，人或謂之癡。 司徒王導以門地辟為中兵屬。 既見，無他言，惟問以江東米價。 述但張目不答。 導曰：「王掾不癡，人何言癡也？」 嘗見導每發言，一坐莫不讚美，述正色曰：「人非堯舜，何得每事盡善！」 導改容謝之，庾亮曰：「懷祖清貞簡貴，不減祖、父，但曠淡微不及耳。」
Wang Shu, courtesy name Huaizu, Orphaned young, he earned a reputation for devotion to his mother. Content with poverty and simple restraint, he sought neither fame nor promotion. By temperament reserved, he remained unruffled when guests argued fiercely and rival doctrines clashed around him. He succeeded to his father's noble title while still young. At thirty he was still obscure, and some dismissed him as slow-witted. Minister Wang Dao recruited him for the central military staff on the strength of his lineage. At their first meeting Wang Dao said nothing else—he merely asked the price of rice east of the river. Wang Shu only stared back and said nothing. Wang Dao remarked, 'This aide is no fool—why does everyone call him one?' Once, when every guest praised whatever Wang Dao said, Wang Shu spoke sternly: 'We are not Yao and Shun—no one can be right about everything.' Wang Dao flushed and apologized. Yu Liang observed, 'Huaizu matches his forebears in integrity and understated dignity—only in expansive ease does he fall a little short.'
12
康帝為驃騎將軍，召補功曹，出為宛陵令。 太尉、司空頻辟，又除尚書吏部郎，並不行。 曆庾冰征虜長史。 時庾翼鎮武昌，以累有妖怪，又猛獸入府，欲移鎮避之。 述與冰箋曰：
While Emperor Kang held the post of commander of agile cavalry, Wang Shu was called up as merit clerk and later left the capital to serve as magistrate of Wanling. Repeated summons from the grand commandant and minister of works, plus appointment as personnel secretary in the masters-of-writing department, all went unanswered. He later served as senior clerk to Yu Bing, general who conquered the barbarians. Yu Yi was stationed at Wuchang when repeated apparitions and even a beast inside headquarters convinced him to relocate. Wang Shu sent Yu Bing a letter:
13
竊聞安西欲移鎮樂鄉，不審此為算邪，將為情邪？ 若謂為算，則彼去武昌千有餘里，數萬之眾造創移徒，方當興立城壁，公私勞擾。 若信要害之地，所宜進據，猶當計移徙之煩，權二者輕重，況此非今日之要邪！ 方今強胡陸梁，當畜力養銳，而無故遷動，自取非算。 又江州當溯流數千，供繼軍府，力役增倍，疲曳道路。 且武昌實是江東鎮戍之中，非但捍禦上流而已。 急緩赴告，駿奔不難。 若移樂鄉，遠在西陲，一朝江渚有虞，不相接救。 方嶽取重將，故當居要害之地，為內外形勢。 使窺窬之心不知所向。 若是情邪，則天道玄遠，鬼神難言，妖祥吉凶，誰知其故！ 是以達人君子直道而行，不以情失。 昔秦忌：「亡胡」之讖，卒為劉項之資； 周惡檿弧之謠，而成褒姒之亂。 此既然矣。 曆觀古今，鑒其遺事，妖異速禍敗者，蓋不少矣，禳避之道，苟非所審，且當擇人事之勝理，思社稷之長計，斯則天下幸甚，令名可保矣。
I hear the Western Pacifier plans to relocate to Lexiang—is that sound strategy or mere unease? If the move is supposed to be strategic, Lexiang lies over a thousand li from Wuchang; marching tens of thousands there means raising new fortifications and exhausting officials and commoners alike. Even if the site were critical ground worth seizing, one must weigh the cost of relocation—and in any case this cannot be the urgent priority now! The northern tribes still swagger; we should husband strength—yet you would stir the army without cause and court a strategic blunder. Supplies for Jiangzhou must come thousands of li upstream, doubling corvée and wearing down every road. Wuchang sits at the heart of our eastern defenses—it is far more than a shield for the upper river. Whether the crisis is sudden or slow, couriers can race there without strain. Shift to distant Lexiang on the western rim and, should trouble flare along the midstream islets, no help can arrive in time. Commanders who anchor the provinces must hold terrain that ties the heartland to the frontier. Only then do hostile designs lose their bearing. If the move is mere sentiment, then Heaven's workings are unfathomable, spirits defy explanation, and no one can parse omens of weal or woe—why pretend otherwise? Men of judgment therefore hold to principle instead of indulging private mood. Qin once feared the prophecy that 'the barbarians would destroy Qin,' yet it only armed Liu Bang and Xiang Yu against the throne. Zhou dreaded the folksong about mulberry bows, yet still reaped the disaster of Baosi. History has shown this plainly. Scan past and present: ill omens have rushed many regimes to ruin. Exorcism rarely clarifies anything—better weigh practical policy and the dynasty's long-term survival; that brings fortune to the realm and keeps one's reputation intact.
14
若安西盛意已耳，不能安于武昌，但得近移夏口，則其次也。 樂鄉之舉，咸謂不可。 願將軍體國為家，固審此舉。
If the Western Pacifier truly cannot stay easy at Wuchang, shifting slightly downstream to Xiakou would be an acceptable compromise. Everyone agrees the Lexiang plan will not do. I urge you to weigh the realm as your own household and judge this move with cold clarity.
15
時朝議亦不允，翼遂不移鎮。
Court opinion sided against the move, so Yu Yi dropped the relocation.
16
述出補臨海太守，遷建威將軍、會稽內史。 蒞政清肅，終日無事。 母憂去職。 服闋，代殷浩為揚州刺史，加征虜將軍。 初至，主簿請諱。 報曰：「亡祖先君，名播海內，遠近所知； 內諱不出門，餘無所諱。」 尋加中書監，固讓，經年不拜。 復加征虜將軍，進都督揚州徐州之琅邪諸軍事、衛將軍、並冀幽平四州大中正，刺史如故。 尋遷散騎常侍、尚書令，將軍如故。 述每受職，不為虛讓，其有所辭，必於不受。 至是，子坦之諫，以為故事應讓。 述曰：「汝謂我不堪邪？」 坦之曰：「非也。 但克讓自美事耳。」 述曰：「既-{云}-堪，何為復讓！ 人言汝勝我，定不及也。」 坦之為桓溫長史。 溫欲為子求婚於坦之。 及還家省父，而述愛坦之。 雖長大，猶抱置膝上。 坦之因言溫意。 述大怒，遽排下，曰：「汝竟癡邪！ 詎可畏溫面而以女妻兵也。」 坦之乃辭以他故。 溫曰：「此尊君不肯耳。」 遂止。 簡文帝每言述才既不長，直以真率便敵人耳。 謝安亦歎美之。
Wang Shu left the capital to become governor of Linhai, then rose to general of the army that establishes might and interior governor of Guiji. His administration was spare and orderly—days passed without needless bustle. He resigned to observe mourning for his mother. After the mourning period he succeeded Yin Hao as Yangzhou provincial inspector and received the additional title general who conquers the barbarians. On first taking up the post, his chief clerk asked which names to avoid. He answered, 'My late grandfather and father were famous throughout the realm—everyone knows their names. Private names stay within the household; beyond that I impose no taboos.' He was soon named overseer of the palace writers but firmly declined and held out a full year without taking the post. He was again named general who conquers the barbarians, promoted to commander of Yangzhou, Xuzhou, and Langye forces, appointed guard general, and made concurrent senior rectifier for Ji, You, and Ping—while retaining his inspector post. Shortly afterward he became imperial attendant and director of the masters of writing, keeping his military title. Wang Shu never performed hollow refusals when accepting posts; if he declined, he truly meant to refuse. Then his son Wang Tanzhi urged him, citing precedent that one should demur. Wang Shu asked, 'Do you think I cannot handle the office?' Wang Tanzhi replied, 'No. Only that graceful self-effacement is admirable in itself.' Wang Shu retorted, 'If I am fit for the role, why put on a show of refusing? People claim you outshine me—they are mistaken.' Wang Tanzhi served as chief clerk to Huan Wen. Huan Wen wanted to arrange a marriage between his son and Wang Tanzhi's daughter. When Wang Tanzhi went home to see his father, Wang Shu doted on him. Even when Tanzhi was fully grown, Wang Shu would still pull him onto his lap. Wang Tanzhi then raised Huan Wen's proposal. Wang Shu flared with anger, pushed him off his knees, and shouted, 'Have you lost your mind? Would you truckle to Huan Wen's temper and marry your daughter into a soldier's house!' Wang Tanzhi declined on other grounds. Huan Wen said, 'Your father simply refused.' The matter ended there. Emperor Jianwen often remarked that Wang Shu's gifts were modest—his blunt sincerity alone made him a match for anyone. Xie An praised him as well.
17
初，述家貧。 求試宛陵令。 頗受贈遺。 而修傢俱，為州司所檢，有一千三百條。 王導使謂之曰：「名父之子不患無祿，屈臨小縣，甚不宜耳。」 述答曰：「足自當止。 時人未之達也。」 比後屢居州郡，清潔絕倫，祿賜皆散之親故，宅宇舊物不革於昔，始為當時所歎。 但性急為累。 嘗食雞子，以箸刺之，不得，便大怒擲地。 雞子圓轉不止，便下床以屐齒踏之，又不得。 瞋甚，掇內口中，齧破而吐之。 既躋重位，每以柔克為用。 謝奕性粗，嘗忿述，極言罵之。 述無所應，面壁而已，居半日，奕去，始復坐。 人以此稱之。
In his early days Wang Shu's family was destitute. He asked to serve a probationary term as magistrate of Wanling. He accepted a fair number of gifts. When he refurbished his household goods, provincial auditors cited him on thirteen hundred counts. Wang Dao sent word: 'A son of an eminent house need never fear poverty—demeaning yourself in a minor county is hardly fitting.' Wang Shu replied, 'I have enough—it will stop on its own. Contemporaries failed to grasp his meaning.' Later, after successive provincial posts of impeccable honesty, he poured salary and imperial gifts into helping kin and friends while leaving his house unchanged—then everyone marvelled at the man they had misjudged. His quick temper was his only flaw. Once, failing to spear a boiled egg with his chopsticks, he flew into a rage and hurled it down. The egg spun away; he jumped down and tried to crush it with his clog—still without success. Furious, he stuffed it into his mouth, bit through it, and spat it out. Once elevated to high office he habitually answered force with yielding patience. The blunt Xie Yi once vented his spite on Wang Shu with torrents of abuse. Wang Shu said nothing and stared at the wall for hours until Xie left; only then did he return to his seat. Onlookers praised him for that restraint.
18
，以年迫懸車，上疏乞骸骨，曰：「臣曾祖父魏司空昶白箋于文皇帝曰：'昔與南陽宗世林共為東宮官屬。 世林少得好名，州裏瞻敬。 及其年老，汲汲自勵，恐見廢棄，時人咸共笑之。 若天假其壽，致仕之年，不為此公婆娑之事。 '情旨慷慨，深所鄙薄。 雖是箋書，乃實訓誡。 臣忝端右，而以疾患，禮敬廢替。 猶謂可有差理，日復一日，而年衰疾痼，永無復瞻華幄之期。 乞奉先誡，歸老丘園。」 不許。 述竟不起。 三年卒，時年六十六。
[Text opens mid-sentence.] With age pressing him toward retirement, he memorialized to surrender office, quoting his great-grandfather Wang Chang's letter to Emperor Wen of Wei: 'Once Zong Shilin of Nanyang and I both served the heir apparent. In youth Zong Shilin won admiration; the province looked up to him. In old age he scrambled to stay relevant, terrified of being cast aside—everyone laughed. Had Heaven granted him longer life, he would not have debased himself so in retirement. That fervent tone repelled me. Though only a letter, it was meant as a lasting lesson. I shame the chief minister's seat yet illness keeps me from performing the proper courtesies. I hoped to recover in time, but days repeat and my chronic malady bars me forever from the imperial hall. I beg leave to heed my ancestor's warning and retire to the hills.' The throne refused. Wang Shu never returned to active duty. He died in the third year of the era at sixty-six.
19
初，桓溫平洛陽，議欲遷都，朝廷憂懼，將遣侍中止之。 述曰：「溫欲以虛聲威朝廷，非事實也。 但從之，自無所至。」 事果不行。 又議欲移洛陽鐘虡，述曰：「永嘉不競，暫都江左。 方當蕩平區宇，旋軫舊京。 若其不耳，宜改遷園陵。 不應先事鐘虡。」 溫竟無以奪之。 追贈侍中、驃騎將軍、開府，諡曰穆，以避穆帝，改曰簡。 子坦之嗣。
When Huan Wen took Luoyang, talk of moving the capital terrified the court, which prepared to send chamberlains to dissuade him. Wang Shu said, 'Huan Wen only wants to cow the court with bluster—he has no serious plan. Humour him and nothing will come of it.' The proposal collapsed. When officials debated shipping the Luoyang bells east, Wang Shu said, 'After Yongjia we merely camped south of the river. We mean to reconquer the realm and wheel back to the ancient capital. If not, relocate the imperial tombs instead. Do not fuss over ritual bells first.' Huan Wen could find no answer. He was posthumously named attendant-in-ordinary, general of agile cavalry, with independent command; his posthumous epithet was first Mu, then changed to Jian to avoid Emperor Mu's taboo. Wang Tanzhi inherited his title.
21
述子坦之
Wang Tanzhi (son of Wang Shu)
22
=坦之字文度。 弱冠與郗超俱有重名，時人為之語曰：「盛德絕倫郗嘉賓，江東獨步王文度。」 嘉賓，超小字也。 僕射江虨領選，將擬為尚書郎。 坦之聞曰：「自過江來，尚書郎正用第二人，何得以此見擬！」 虨遂止。 簡文帝為撫軍將軍，辟為掾。 累遷參軍、從事中郎，仍為司馬，加散騎常侍。 出為大司馬桓溫長史。 尋以父憂去職，服闋。 徵拜侍中，襲父爵。 時卒士韓悵逃之歸首，云「失牛故叛。」 有司劾悵偷牛，考掠服罪。 坦之以為悵束身自歸，而法外加罪，懈怠失牛，事或可恕，加之木石，理有自誣，宜附罪疑從輕之例，遂以見原。 海西公廢，領左衛將軍。
Wang Tanzhi, courtesy name Wendu, Coming of age alongside Xi Chao, he shared equal fame; the rhyme ran, 'Xi Jiabin—virtue without peer; Wang Wendu—stride alone east of the Yangzi.' Jiabin was Xi Chao's childhood name. Vice-director Jiang Bin, heading appointments, meant to nominate him as secretary in the masters-of-writing department. Wang Tanzhi protested, 'South of the river a secretary's post goes to a second-tier candidate—how dare you compare me to that!' Jiang Bin dropped the nomination. While Prince Sima Yu served as general who pacifies the army, Wang Tanzhi joined his staff. He rose through military aide and secretariat adviser to marshal and received the additional title attendant at large. He left court to become chief clerk to Huan Wen as grand marshal. He resigned for his father's death and returned once mourning ended. Recalled as attendant-in-ordinary, he succeeded to his father's noble title. A soldier named Han Chang deserted, then surrendered, claiming he fled because he lost his ox.' Officials charged him with cattle theft and beat a confession out of him. Wang Tanzhi argued that Han had turned himself in, so extra-legal torture was wrong; losing an ox through carelessness might be forgiven, whereas forcing a confession only produced false guilt—under the rule of leniency for doubtful cases he should be released, and so he was. After Duke Ai of Haixi was deposed, Wang Tanzhi commanded the Left Guard.
23
坦之有風格，尤非時俗放蕩，不敦儒教，頗尚刑名學，著《廢莊論》曰：
Wang Tanzhi had strong principles; he condemned fashionable libertines who neglected Confucian duty for Legalist cleverness, and he composed Discourses on Abandoning Zhuangzi, beginning:
24
又領本州大中正。 簡文帝臨崩，詔大司馬溫依周公居攝故事。 坦之自持詔入，於帝前毀之。 帝曰：「天下，儻來之運，卿何所嫌！」 坦之曰：「天下，宣元之天下，陛下何得專之！」 帝乃使坦之改詔焉。
He also served as senior rectifier for his home province. As Emperor Jianwen lay dying, an edict instructed Huan Wen to follow the Duke of Zhou's regency precedent. Wang Tanzhi carried the edict in and tore it up before the emperor. The emperor said, 'The realm fell into your lap—why shrink from it?' Wang Tanzhi answered, 'The realm belongs to the lines of Xuandi and Yuandi—how can Your Majesty claim it alone?' The emperor had Wang Tanzhi rewrite the edict.
25
溫薨，坦之與謝安共輔幼主，遷中書令，領丹陽尹。 俄授都督徐兗青三州諸軍事、北中郎將、徐兗二州刺史，鎮廣陵。 將之鎮，上表曰：
After Huan Wen died, Wang Tanzhi and Xie An co-regented for the boy emperor; Wang Tanzhi became director of the palace secretariat and concurrent governor of Danyang. He was soon named commander of Xu, Yan, and Qing forces, general of the northern centre, concurrent inspector of Xu and Yan, and stationed at Guangling. Before leaving for his post he memorialized:
26
{{quote|臣聞人君之道以孝敬為本，臨御四海以委任為貴。 恭順無為，則盛德日新； 親杖賢能，則政道邕睦。 昔周成、漢昭，並以幼年纂承大統。 當時天下未為無難，終能顯揚祖考，保安社稷，蓋尊尊親親，信納大臣之所致也。
Your servant has learned that a ruler's duty rests on filial devotion, and that governing the realm turns on trusting ministers (template markup stripped). Respectful restraint without meddling renews your virtue daily. Rely on worthy men and your government stays harmonious. King Cheng of Zhou and Emperor Zhao of Han both inherited the throne as boys. Their age was no easier than ours, yet they glorified their forebears and secured the state—because they honoured hierarchy, cherished kin, and trusted their chief ministers.
27
伏維陛下誕奇秀之姿，稟生知之量，春秋尚富，涉道未廣，方須訓導以成天德。 皇太后仁淑之體，過於三母，先帝奉事積年，每稱聖明。 臣願奉事之心，便當自同孝宗； 太后慈愛之隆，亦不必異所生。 琅邪王、餘姚主及諸皇女，宜朝夕定省，承受教誨，導習儀刑，以成景仰恭敬之美，不可以屬非至親，自為疏疑。 昔肅祖崩殂，成康幼沖，事無大小，必諮丞相導，所以克就聖德，實此之由，今僕射臣安、中軍臣沖，人望具瞻，社稷之臣。 且受遇先帝，綢繆繾綣，並志竭忠貞，盡心盡力，歸誠陛下，以報先帝。 愚謂周旋舉動。 皆應諮此二臣。 二臣之于陛下，則周之旦奭，漢之霍光，顯宗之于王導。 沖雖在外，路不-{云}-遠，事容信宿，必宜參詳，然後情聽獲盡，庶事可畢。
Your Majesty's talents are extraordinary and your years still few—the Way lies ahead and will ripen only through steady instruction. The Empress Dowager's kindness exceeds the exemplary mothers of antiquity; the late emperor served her for years and ever called her wise. Your servant would serve her with the same devotion owed to a revered father. Her motherly love need not shy away from natural affection. You should visit the Prince of Langye, the Princess of Yuyao, and your sisters morning and night, learn deportment at their knees, and nurture reverence—do not treat them as distant kin and breed suspicion. When Emperor Su died, Emperors Cheng and Kang were infants and looked to Wang Dao for every decision—that made their virtue possible. Today Xie An as vice-director and Huan Chong commanding the central army hold the realm's trust. Both enjoyed the late emperor's intimacy and now devote every ounce of loyalty to you to repay his grace. In my humble view, every move you make should be weighed with these two ministers. They stand to you as the Duke of Zhou and the Duke of Shao to the boy king, as Huo Guang to Han, as Emperor Yuan to Wang Dao. Though Huan Chong is posted away, the roads are short enough for counsel within a day or two—consult him in detail so nothing is missed.
28
又天聽雖聰，不啟不廣； 群情雖忠，不引不盡。 宜數引侍臣，詢求讜言。 平易之世，有道之主猶尚誡懼，日昃不倦； 況今艱難理盡，慮經安危，祖宗之基系之陛下，不可不精心務道，以申先帝堯舜之風。 可不敬修至德，以保宣元天地之祚？}}
Heaven may hear all, yet without counsel your perspective stays narrow. Your officials may be loyal, yet their counsel flows only if you draw it out. Summon your attendants often and invite blunt counsel. Even sage kings in peaceful times stayed wary past noon. Our age is perilous—the ancestral legacy rests on you; you must devote yourself to the Way and carry forward the late emperor's aspirations to emulate Yao and Shun. Will you not cultivate supreme virtue to safeguard the fortune won by Xuandi and Yuandi?
29
表奏，帝納之。
The emperor adopted the memorial.
30
初，謝安愛好聲律，期功之慘，示廢妓樂頗，以成俗。 坦之非而苦諫之。 安遺坦之書曰：「知君思相愛惜之至。 僕所求者聲，謂稱情義，無所不可為，卿復以自娛耳。 若絜軌跡，崇世教，非所擬議，亦非所屑。 常謂君粗得鄙趣者，猶未悟之濠上邪！ 故知莫逆，未易為人。」 坦之答曰：「具君雅旨，此是誠心而行，獨往之美，然恐非大雅中庸之謂。 意者以為人之體韻猶器之方圓，方圓不可錯用，體韻豈可易處！ 各順其方，以弘其業，則歲寒之功必有成矣。 實吾子少立德行，體議淹允，加以令地，優遊自居，僉曰之談，咸以請遠相許，至於此事，實有疑焉。 公私二三，莫見其可。 以此為濠上，悟之者得無鮮乎！ 且天下之寶，故為天下所惜，天下之所非，何為不可以天下為心乎？ 想君幸復三思。」 書往反數四，安竟不從。
Xie An loved music; during the keyed mourning periods he suspended entertainers and set a precedent others followed (text partially defective). Wang Tanzhi opposed him and remonstrated sharply. Xie An wrote, 'I know how deeply you care for me. I chase tone because it fits feeling and rectitude—nothing is barred—and it pleases me besides. Puritan rules and moral lecturing were never my aim—I disdain them too. I thought you grasped my tastes—have you still missed the lesson of the fish on the Hao? Heart-to-heart friendship is rare; becoming such a friend is harder still.' Wang Tanzhi replied, 'I take your meaning—you follow the heart as Zhuangzi praised—yet that strays from the Doctrine of the Mean. Each nature has its proper shape, like round and square vessels—temperament cannot be swapped at will. Honour each man's bent and his achievement ripens like pine and bamboo in winter cold. You built virtue young, enjoy fine breeding, and everyone calls you far-sighted—yet on this habit I must demur. Neither public duty nor private sense approves it. Call this 'fish on the Hao' enlightenment—how few will follow!' The empire treasures what it honours—why disregard its verdict? Please think again.' They exchanged letters four times; Xie An did not yield.
31
坦之又嘗與殷康子書論公謙之義曰：
Wang Tanzhi also wrote to Yin Kangzi on the meaning of public humility:
35
康子及袁宏並有疑難，坦之標章擿句，一一申而釋之，莫不厭服。 又孔嚴著《通葛論》，坦之與書讚美之。 其忠公慷慨，標明賢勝，皆此類也。
Yin Kangzi and Yuan Hong raised objections; Wang Tanzhi answered clause by clause until both were satisfied. When Kong Yan wrote On Understanding Ge, Wang Tanzhi sent a letter of praise. His public-spirited zeal and praise of worth belong to the same pattern.
36
初，坦之與沙門竺法師甚厚，每共論幽明報應。 便要先死者當報其事。 後經年，師忽來云：「貧道已死，罪福皆不虛。 惟當勤修道德，以升濟神明耳。」 言訖不見。 坦之尋亦卒，時年四十六。 臨終，與謝安、桓沖書，言不及私，惟憂國家之事，朝野甚痛惜之。 追贈安北將軍，諡曰獻。
Wang Tanzhi was close to the monk Zhu Fashi and often debated karma with him. They agreed that whoever died first would report back. Years later the monk appeared and said, 'I am dead—reward and punishment are real. Strive in virtue if you would rise among the spirits.' He vanished when he finished speaking. Wang Tanzhi died soon after at forty-six. On his deathbed he wrote to Xie An and Huan Chong of nothing personal—only the state—and court and countryside mourned him. He was posthumously named general who pacifies the north with the epithet Xian.
37
禕之字文邵。 少知名，尚尋陽公主，歷中書侍郎。 年未三十而卒，贈散騎常侍。
Wang Yizhi, courtesy name Wenshao, He was celebrated young, married the Princess of Xunyang, and served as secretary in the palace secretariat. He died before thirty and was posthumously named attendant at large.
38
坦之四子：愷、愉、國寶、忱。
Wang Tanzhi had four sons: Wang Kai, Wang Yu, Wang Guobao, and Wang Chen.
40
坦之子愷、愉
Wang Kai and Wang Yu (sons of Wang Tanzhi)
41
=愷字茂仁，愉字茂和，並少踐清階。 愷襲父爵，愉稍遷驃騎司馬，加輔國將軍。 愷太元末為侍中，領右衛將軍，多所獻替。 兄弟貴盛，當時莫比。
Wang Kai, courtesy name Maoren, and Wang Yu, courtesy name Maohe, both entered office young. Wang Kai inherited his father's title; Wang Yu rose to marshal on the agile-cavalry staff and received the additional title general who aids the state. Late in the Taiyuan era Wang Kai served as attendant-in-ordinary and commanded the Right Guard, offering frequent counsel. No brothers of their generation matched their combined power.
42
及王恭等討國寶，愷、愉並請解職。 以與國寶異生，又素不協，故得免禍。 國寶既死，出愷為吳郡內史，愉為江州刺史、都督豫州四郡、輔國將軍、假節。 未幾，征愷為丹陽尹。 及桓玄等至江寧，愷令兵守石頭。 俄而玄等走，復為吳郡。 病卒，追贈太常。
When Wang Gong moved against Wang Guobao, both Wang Kai and Wang Yu asked to resign. Different mothers and long-standing estrangement from Guobao spared them. After Guobao died, Wang Kai became interior governor of Wu while Wang Yu became inspector of Jiangzhou, commander over four Yuzhou commands, general who aids the state, with ceremonial credentials. Soon Wang Kai was recalled as governor of Danyang. When Huan Xuan reached Jiangning, Wang Kai stationed troops at Stone Citadel. Huan Xuan soon withdrew and Wang Kai returned as governor of Wu. He died of illness and was posthumously named chamberlain of ceremonies.
43
愉至鎮，未幾，殷仲堪、桓玄、楊佺期舉兵應王恭，乘流奄至。 愉既無備，惶遽奔臨川，為玄所得。 玄盟于尋陽，以愉置壇所，愉甚恥之。 及事解，除會稽內史。 玄篡位，以為尚書僕射。 劉裕義旗建，加前將軍。 愉既桓氏婿，父子寵貴，又嘗輕侮劉裕，心不自安，潛結司州刺史溫詳，謀作亂，事泄，被誅，子孫十餘人皆伏法。
Shortly after Wang Yu reached his post, Yin Zhongkan, Huan Xuan, and Yang Quanqi mobilized for Wang Gong and swept downstream upon him. Caught unprepared, Wang Yu fled toward Linchuan and fell into Huan Xuan's hands. At the Xunyang league Huan Xuan left Wang Yu standing by the altar—a humiliation Wang deeply resented. After peace returned he was named interior governor of Guiji. When Huan Xuan seized the throne he made Wang Yu vice-director of the masters of writing. When Liu Yu raised the loyalist cause Wang Yu received the additional title general of the van. Wang Yu was a Huan in-law; father and son had grown arrogant and once slighted Liu Yu. Fear drove him to plot with Wen Xiang, inspector of Sizhou; the plot leaked and he was executed along with over ten kin.
45
愉弟國寶
Wang Guobao (younger brother of Wang Yu)
46
=國寶少無士操，不修廉隅。 婦父謝安惡其傾側，每抑而不用。 除尚書郎。 國寶以中興膏腴之族，惟作吏部，不為余曹郎，甚怨望，固辭不拜。 從妹為會稽王道子妃，由是與道子遊處，遂間毀安焉。
Wang Guobao lacked scholarly scruples in youth and kept no moral boundaries. His father-in-law Xie An despised his shiftiness and repeatedly blocked his promotion. He was appointed secretary in the masters-of-writing department. As scion of a premier restoration clan he expected the personnel bureau, not a lesser bureau—he refused the post in resentment. His cousin was consort to Prince Sima Daozi of Guiji, so he courted Daozi and used the tie to slander Xie An.
47
及道子輔政，以為秘書丞。 俄遷琅邪內史，領堂邑太守，加輔國將軍。 人補侍中，遷中書令、中領軍，與道子持威權，扇動內外。 中書郎范寧，國寶舅也，儒雅方直，疾其阿諛，勸孝武帝黜之。 國寶乃使陳郡袁悅之因尼支妙音致書與太子母陳淑媛，說國寶忠謹，宜見親信。 帝知之，托以他罪殺悅之。 國寶大懼，遂因道子譖毀寧，寧由是出為豫章太守。 及弟忱卒，國寶自表求解職迎母。 並奔忱喪。 詔特賜假，而盤桓不時進發，為御史中丞褚粲所奏。 國寶懼罪，衣女子衣，托為王家婢，詣道子告其事。 道子言之於帝，故得原。 後驃騎參軍王徽請國寶同宴，國寶素驕貴使酒，怒尚書左丞祖台之，攘袂大呼，以盤盞樂器擲台之，台之不敢言，復為粲所彈。 詔以國寶縱肆情性，甚不可長，台之懦弱，非監司體，並坐免官。 頃之，復職，愈驕蹇不遵法度。 起齋侔清暑殿，帝惡其僭侈。 國寶懼，遂諂媚於帝，而頗疏道子。 道子大怒，嘗於內省面責國寶，以劍擲之，舊好盡矣。
When Daozi began directing policy he named Wang Guobao assistant director of the palace library. He soon became interior governor of Langye, concurrent governor of Tangyi, with the additional title general who aids the state. He moved up to attendant-in-ordinary, then director of the palace secretariat and central army commander, sharing Daozi's grip on power and swaying court and countryside. Fan Ning of the secretariat—Guobao's uncle—was learned and upright; loathing the flattery he urged Emperor Xiaowu to dismiss Guobao. Guobao had Yuan Yuezhi smuggle a letter via the nun Zhi Miaoyin to the crown prince's mother, praising his loyalty to win favour. The emperor learned of it and executed Yuan Yuezhi on another charge. Terrified, Guobao used Daozi to defame Fan Ning, who was banished to Yuzhang. When his brother Wang Chen died Guobao asked leave to fetch his mother. They hurried together to Wang Chen's funeral. The court granted him leave, but he delayed departure and Chu Can, metropolitan shepherd, impeached him. Wang Guobao, terrified of punishment, dressed as a woman, posed as a Wang family servant, and appealed to Sima Daozi. Daozi spoke to the emperor and secured his pardon. When Wang Hui invited Wang Guobao to drink, Guobao—drunk and arrogant—berated Zu Taizhi and threw dishes at him; Zu stayed silent, and Chu Can impeached Guobao again. An edict blamed Guobao's indulgence and Zu's timidity—both were stripped of office. Soon reinstated, he grew more wilful and lawless. He built a chapel rivalling the Cool Summer Hall—an extravagance that disgusted the emperor. Frightened, he courted the emperor and drifted from Daozi. Daozi raged and once rebuked Guobao inside the palace, even throwing a sword at him—their alliance ended.
48
是時王雅亦有寵，薦王珣於帝。 帝夜與國寶及雅宴，帝微有酒，令召珣，將至，國寶自知才出珣下，恐至，傾其寵，因曰：「王珣當今名流，不可以酒色見。」 帝遂止，而以國寶為忠。 將納國寶女為琅邪王妃，未婚，而帝崩。
Wang Ya enjoyed favour then and recommended Wang Xun to the throne. During a night banquet the emperor, somewhat drunk, summoned Wang Xun. Guobao knew himself inferior and feared losing favour, so he said, 'Wang Xun is a leading gentleman—do not receive him amid wine and revelry.' The emperor cancelled the summons and deemed Guobao loyal. He had meant to marry Guobao's daughter to the Prince of Langye, but the emperor died before the wedding.
49
安帝即位，國寶復事道子，進從祖弟緒為琅邪內史，亦以佞邪見知。 道子復惑之，倚為心腹，並為時之所疾。 國寶遂參管朝權，威震內外。 遷尚書左僕射。 領選，加後將軍、丹陽尹，道子悉以東宮兵配之。
Under Emperor An, Wang Guobao again served Daozi and installed his cousin Wang Xu as interior governor of Langye—another sycophant. Daozi trusted them as intimates, and both men were loathed. Guobao seized court power and dominated capital and provinces. He rose to left vice-director of the masters of writing. He directed appointments, added the title general of the rear and governor of Danyang, and Daozi gave him the heir apparent's troops.
50
時王恭與殷仲堪並以才器，各居名籓。 恭惡道子、國寶亂政，屢有憂國之言。 道子等亦深忌憚之，將謀去其兵。 未及行，而恭檄至，以討國寶為名，國寶惶遽不知所為。 緒說國寶，令矯道子命，召王珣、車胤殺之，以除群望，因挾主相以討諸侯。 國寶許之。 珣、胤既至，而不敢害，反問計於珣。 珣勸國寶放兵權以迎恭，國寶信之。 語在《珣傳》。 又問計於胤，胤曰：「南北同舉，而荊州未至，若朝廷遣軍，恭必城守。 昔桓公圍壽陽，彌時乃克。 若京城未拔，而上流奄至，君將何以待之？」 國寶尤懼，遂上疏解職，詣闕待罪。 既而悔之，祚稱詔復其本官，欲收其兵距王恭。
Wang Gong and Yin Zhongkan held prominent provincial commands. Wang Gong loathed Daozi and Guobao's misrule and often voiced concern for the realm. Daozi feared them and plotted to strip their armies. Before the plan moved, Wang Gong's manifesto arrived demanding Guobao's head; Guobao panicked. Wang Xu urged Guobao to forge Daozi's order, summon Wang Xun and Che Yin to kill them, silence rivals, then coerce emperor and minister against the provinces. Guobao agreed. When Xun and Yin arrived, Guobao dared not kill them and asked Xun for advice. Wang Xun urged him to yield command to placate Wang Gong, and Guobao believed him. Details appear in the biography of Wang Xun. He asked Che Yin, who replied, 'North and south rise together but Jingzhou is late—if the court sends troops Wang Gong will fortify. Marquis Huan once besieged Shouyang for ages before taking it. If the capital holds while upstream armies strike, how will you answer?' Guobao was terrified, memorialized his resignation, and waited at the palace gate for punishment. He regretted it, forged an edict restoring his post, and mustered troops to resist Wang Gong (the character in the text may be a variant of 'forge').
51
道子既不能距諸侯，欲委罪國寶，乃遣譙王尚之收國寶，付廷尉，賜死，並斬緒於市。 以謝王恭。 國寶貪縱聚斂，不知紀極，後房伎妾以百數，天下珍玩充滿其室。 及王恭伏法，詔追復國寶本官。 元興初，桓玄得志，表徙其家屬于交州。
Unable to face the provinces, Daozi scapegoated Guobao: Prince Sima Shangzhi arrested him, the commandant ordered suicide, and Wang Xu died in the marketplace. This was meant to appease Wang Gong. Guobao extorted without limit and kept hundreds of entertainers; rare treasures jammed his halls. After Wang Gong's execution an edict posthumously restored Guobao's titles. Early in Yuanxing, once Huan Xuan triumphed, he memorialized to exile Guobao's kin to Jiaozhou.
53
國寶弟忱
Wang Chen (younger brother of Wang Guobao)
54
=忱字元達。 弱冠知名，與王恭、王珣俱流譽一時。 歷位驃騎長史。 嘗造其舅范寧，與張玄相遇，寧使與玄語。 玄正坐斂衽，待其有發，忱竟不與言，玄失望便去。 寧讓忱曰：「張玄，吳中之秀，何不與語？」 忱笑曰：「張祖希欲相識，自可見詣。」 寧謂曰：「卿風流雋望，真後來之秀。」 忱曰：「不有此舅，焉有此甥！」 既而寧使報玄，玄束帶造之，始為賓主。
Wang Chen, courtesy name Yuanda, Celebrated at his capping alongside Wang Gong and Wang Xun. He served as chief clerk to the commander of agile cavalry. Visiting his uncle Fan Ning he met Zhang Xuan; Fan asked them to talk. Zhang sat formally waiting for Wang Chen to speak; Wang Chen stayed silent, so Zhang left disappointed. Fan scolded him: 'Zhang Xuan is Wu's finest scholar—why refuse speech?' Wang Chen smiled: 'If Zhang Zuoxi wants acquaintance, let him call on me.' Fan said, 'Your grace marks you among the rising elite.' Wang Chen replied, 'Without such an uncle, how such a nephew!' Fan told Zhang, who belted his robes and paid a formal visit—they then conversed as host and guest.
55
太元中，出為荊州刺史、都督荊益寧三州軍事、建武將軍、假節。 忱自恃才氣，放酒誕節，慕王澄之為人，又年少居方伯之任，談者憂之。 及鎮荊州，威風肅然，殊得物和。 桓玄時在江陵，既其本國。 且奕葉故義，常以才雄駕物。 忱每裁抑之。 玄嘗詣忱，通人未出，乘轝直進。 忱對玄鞭門幹，玄怒，去之，忱亦不留。 嘗朔日見客，仗衛甚盛，玄言欲獵，借數百人，忱悉給之。 玄憚而服焉。
During Taiyuan he became inspector of Jingzhou, commander of Jing, Yi, and Ning forces, general who establishes might, with ceremonial credentials. Confident and wilful, he drank wildly and emulated Wang Cheng's eccentric style; observers worried about so young a governor. Yet ruling Jingzhou he commanded respect and harmony. Huan Xuan was at Jiangling in his home commandery. Generations of ties made Huan Xuan habitually domineering. Wang Chen repeatedly checked him. Once Huan Xuan called before the usher appeared and barged in by sedan chair. Wang Chen had gate guards whipped in his presence; Huan stormed off and Wang Chen did not detain him. On a court day Wang Chen received guests with full guard; Huan asked for hundreds of men for a hunt and Wang Chen supplied them. Huan Xuan respected him thereafter.
56
性任達不拘，末年尤嗜酒，一飲連月不醒，或裸體而遊，每歡三日不歎，便覺形神不相親。 婦父嘗有慘，忱乘醉吊之，婦父慟哭，忱與賓客十許人，連臂被髮裸身而入，繞之三幣百而出。 其所行多此類。 數年卒官，追贈右將軍，諡曰穆。
Wild and unrestrained, in old age he drank for months on end, sometimes wandered naked; prolonged revel left body and soul estranged. When his father-in-law mourned, Wang Chen arrived drunk; while the elder wept, Wang Chen and a dozen guests linked arms, hair loose and naked, entered and circled the bier three times before leaving (text defective at end). Much of his conduct matched this excess. He died in office after a few years and was posthumously named general of the right with epithet Mu.
58
愉子綏
Wang Sui (son of Wang Yu)
59
=綏字彥猷。 少有美稱，厚自矜邁，實鄙而無行。 愉為殷、桓所捕，綏未測存亡，在都有憂色，居處飲食，每事貶降，時人每謂為「試守孝子」。 桓玄之為太尉，綏以桓氏甥甚見寵待，為太尉右長史。 及玄篡，遷中書令。 劉裕建義，以為冠軍將軍。 其家夜中梁上無故有人頭墮於床，而流血滂沲。 俄拜荊州刺史、假節。 坐父愉之謀，與弟納並被誅。
Wang Sui, courtesy name Yanyou, Praised in youth yet arrogant—mean-spirited beneath the polish. When Wang Yu fell into Yin and Huan's hands, Wang Sui—unsure if his father lived—feigned mourning so shallowly that people mocked him as a 'trial-period filial son.' When Huan Xuan served as grand commandant he favoured his nephew Wang Sui as senior clerk. After the usurpation Wang Sui became director of the palace secretariat. When Liu Yu raised the loyal army Wang Sui was named champion general. A severed head dropped from a beam onto his bed in a shower of blood. He was soon named inspector of Jingzhou with credentials. His father's plot implicated him and his brother Wang Na—both were executed.
60
初，綏與王謐、桓胤齊名，為後進之秀。 謐位官既極，保身而終。 胤以從坐誅，聲稱猶全。 綏身死，名論殆盡，亦以薄行矜峭而尚人故也。 自昶父漢雁門太守澤已有名稱，忱又秀出，綏亦著稱，八葉繼軌，軒冕莫與為比焉。
Once Wang Sui ranked with Wang Mi and Huan Yin among rising talents. Wang Mi rose to the top yet survived. Huan Yin died as an accessory yet kept his reputation. Wang Sui died in disgrace—his shallow swagger had invited it. From Wang Ze of Han down through Wang Chang to Wang Chen and Wang Sui—eight generations of high office unmatched by any clan.
62
族子嶠
Wang Qiao (clansman)
63
=嶠字開山。 祖默，魏尚書。 父佑，以才智稱，為楊駿腹心。 駿之排汝南王亮，退衛瓘，皆佑之謀也。 位至北軍中候。 嶠少有風尚，並、司二州交辟，不就。 永嘉末，攜其二弟避亂渡江。 時元帝鎮建鄴，教曰：「王佑三息始至，名德之胄，並有操行，宜蒙飾敘。 且可給錢三十萬，帛三百匹，米五十斛，親兵二十人。」 尋以嶠參世子東中郎軍事。 不就。 湣帝徵拜著作郎，右丞相南陽王保辟，皆以道險不行。 元帝作相，以為水曹屬，除長山令，遷太子中舍人以疾不拜。 王敦請為參軍，爵九原縣公。
Wang Qiao, courtesy name Kaishan, His grandfather Wang Mo served Wei as minister. His father Wang You, famed for ability, was Yang Jun's confidant. Yang Jun's purge of Prince Sima Liang of Runan and dismissal of Wei Guan were Wang You's schemes. He rose to inspector of the northern armies. Youthful Wang Qiao won simultaneous summons from Bing and Si—he declined. At the end of Yongjia he fled south with two brothers. Prince Sima Rui ordered rewards for Wang You's three sons—men of pedigree and conduct deserving titles. Grant three hundred thousand cash, three hundred bolts of silk, fifty hu of rice, and twenty guards.' Wang Qiao was soon named aide on the heir apparent's eastern army staff. He declined. Emperor Min's call to the editorial office and Prince Sima Bao of Nanyang's summons failed—roads were unsafe. As prime minister, Prince Yuan named him to the water bureau, then magistrate of Changshan; he was offered palace aide to the heir apparent but cited illness. Wang Dun recruited him as military aide with the noble rank Duke of Jiuyuan county.
64
敦在石頭，欲禁私伐蔡洲荻，以問群下。 時王師新敗，士庶震懼，莫敢異議。 嶠獨曰：「中原有菽，庶人采之。 百姓不足，君孰與足！ 若禁人樵伐，未知其可。」 敦不悅。 敦將殺周顗、戴若思，嶠於坐諫曰：「濟濟多士，交王以寧。 安可戮諸名士，以自全生！」 敦大怒，欲斬嶠，賴謝鯤以免。 敦猶銜之，出為領軍長史。 敦平後，除中書侍郎，兼大著作，固辭。 轉越騎校尉，頻遷吏部郎、御史中丞、秘書監，領本州大中正。 咸和初，朝議欲以嶠為丹陽尹。 嶠以京尹望重，不宜以疾居之，求補廬陵郡，乃拜嶠廬陵太守。 以嶠家貧，無以上道，賜布百匹。 錢十萬。 尋卒官，諡曰穆。 子淡嗣，歷位右衛將軍、侍中、中護軍、尚書、廣州刺史。 淡子度世，驍騎將軍。
At Stone Citadel Wang Dun proposed banning private reed-cutting on Cai Isle and polled his staff. After the recent defeat none dared oppose him. Wang Qiao alone said, 'The Odes sing that common folk may gather beans on common ground. When the people lack enough, what can the ruler have? Banning fuel gathering may not be wise.' Wang Dun took offence. As Wang Dun prepared to execute Zhou Yi and Dai Ruosi, Wang Qiao objected: 'The king needs his ministers—how slaughter noted scholars to save yourself? You cannot butcher eminent scholars merely to survive!' Wang Dun flew into a rage and nearly executed Wang Qiao; Xie Kun saved him. Wang Dun still nursed a grudge and posted him as chief clerk to the commander of armies. After Wang Dun's defeat Wang Qiao was offered secretary of the palace secretariat and chief compiler—he refused. He became colonel of fierce cavalry, then personnel secretary, metropolitan shepherd, palace librarian, and senior rectifier for his province. Early in Xianhe the court meant to name him governor of Danyang. Wang Qiao argued that the capital governorship was too weighty for an ailing man and asked for Luling—so he became governor of Luling. The court granted him a hundred bolts because he could not afford the journey. Plus one hundred thousand cash. He died in office soon after with epithet Mu. His son Wang Dan inherited his rank and rose to Right Guard commander, attendant-in-ordinary, central protector, minister, and inspector of Guangzhou. Wang Dushi became general of nimble cavalry.
65
袁悅之
Yuan Yuezhi
66
袁悅之，字元禮，陳郡陽夏人也。 父朗，給事中。 悅之能長短說，甚有精理。 始為謝玄參軍，為玄所遇，丁憂去職。 服闋還都，止齎《戰國策》，言天下要惟此書。 後甚為會稽王道子所親愛，每勸道子專覽朝權，道子頗納其說。 俄而見誅。
Yuan Yuezhi, courtesy name Yuanli, came from Yangxia in Chen commandery. His father Yuan Lang served as palace attendant. He excelled at sophistry with acute reasoning. He began as military aide to Xie Xuan, earned favour, then resigned for mourning. Returning after mourning he carried only the Warring States Stratagems, claiming it held the keys to power. Prince Daozi of Guiji grew fond of him; Yuan urged Daozi to monopolize court power and Daozi listened. He was soon executed.
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祖台之
Zu Taizhi
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=祖-{台}-之，字元辰，范陽人也。 官至侍中、光祿大夫。 撰《志怪》，書行於世。
Zu Taizhi, courtesy name Yuanchen, came from Fanyang. He rose to attendant-in-ordinary and grand master of splendid happiness. He compiled Records of the Strange, which circulated widely.
70
荀崧
Xun Song
71
荀崧，字景猷，潁川臨潁人，魏太尉彧之玄孫也。 父頵，羽林右監、安陵鄉侯，與王濟、何劭為拜親之友。 崧志操清純，雅好文學。 齠齔時，族曾祖顗見而奇之，以為必興頵門。 弱冠，太原王濟甚相器重，以方其外祖陳郡袁侃，謂侃弟奧曰：「近見荀監子，清虛名理，當不及父，德性純粹，是賢兄輩人也。」 其為名流所賞如此。 泰始中，詔以崧代兄襲父爵，補濮陽王允文學。 與王敦、顧榮、陸機等友善，趙王倫引為相國參軍。 倫篡，轉護軍司馬、給事中，稍遷尚書吏部郎、太弟中庶子，累遷侍中、中護軍。
Xun Song, courtesy name Jingyou, from Linlei in Yingchuan, was great-grandson of the Wei grand commandant Xun Yu. His father Xun Yi commanded the guards and held the village marquisate of Anling; he was sworn kin to Wang Ji and He Shao. Xun Song's character was pure and he loved letters. While still a child his kinsman Xun Yi foresaw he would revive the clan. At his capping Wang Ji of Taiyuan admired him and likened him to his maternal grandfather Yuan Kan, telling Yuan Ao, 'The boy rivals his father in doctrine but matches your brothers in sheer virtue.' Leading figures esteemed him thus. Under Taishi an edict let him inherit his father's title in place of his brother and tutor Prince Yun of Puyang. Friends with Wang Dun, Gu Rong, and Lu Ji, he joined Prince Sima Lun as military aide. After the usurpation he rose through marshal of guards, palace aide, personnel secretary, attendant to the heir apparent, attendant-in-ordinary, and central protector.
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王彌入洛，崧與百官奔於密，未至而母亡。 賊追將及，同旅散走，崧被髮從車，守喪號泣。 賊至，棄其母屍於地，奪車而去。 崧被四創，氣絕，至夜方蘇。 葬母於密山。 服闋，族父籓承制，以崧監江北軍事、南中郎將、後將軍、假節、襄城太守。 時山陵發掘，崧遣主簿石覽將兵入洛，修復山陵。 以勳進爵舞陽縣公，遷都督荊州江北諸軍事、平南將軍，鎮宛，改封曲陵公。 為賊杜曾所圍。 石覽時為襄城太守，崧力弱食盡，使其小女灌求救于覽及南中郎將周訪。 訪即遣子撫率兵三千人會石覽，俱救崧。 賊聞兵至，散走。 崧既得免，乃遣南陽中部尉王國、劉願等潛軍襲穰縣，獲曾從兄偽新野太守保，斬之。
When Wang Mi took Luoyang, Xun Song fled toward Mi with the court but his mother died en route. As bandits closed in his companions fled; Xun Song loosed his hair, rode with his mother's bier, and wailed. Raiders threw down the corpse and stole his cart. Xun Song suffered four cuts and lay senseless until night. He buried her on Mount Mi. After mourning his kinsman Sima Fan, acting under orders, put him in charge of Jiangbei forces as general of the southern centre and rear with credentials and as governor of Xiangcheng. When Luoyang tombs were looted he sent Shi Lan to restore them. For his service he became Duke of Wuyang county, commander of Jingzhou north-of-the-Yangzi forces, general who pacifies the south at Wan, later retitled Duke of Quling. Bandit Du Zeng besieged him. With grain gone Xun Song sent his daughter Xun Guan through the lines to Shi Lan and Zhou Fang. Zhou Fang sent Zhou Fu with three thousand men alongside Shi Lan to relieve him. Du Zeng's men fled at their approach. Once free he ambushed Rang, seized Du Zeng's kinsman Bao who posed as Xinye governor, and executed him.
73
元帝踐阼，徵拜尚書僕射，使崧與協共定中興禮儀。 從弟馗早亡，二息序、廞，年各數歲，崧迎與共居，恩同其子。 太尉、臨淮公荀顗國胤廢絕，朝庭以崧屬近，欲以崧子襲封。 崧哀序孤微，乃讓封與序，論者稱焉。 轉太常。 時方修學校，簡省博士，置《周易》王氏、《尚書》鄭氏、《古文尚書》孔氏、《毛詩》鄭氏、《周官禮記》鄭氏、《春秋左傳》杜氏服氏、《論語》《孝經》鄭氏博士各一人，凡九人，其《儀禮》、《公羊》、《穀梁》及鄭《易》皆省不置。 崧以為不可，乃上疏曰：
Emperor Yuan summoned him as vice-director of the masters of writing to codify court ritual with Diao Xie. He raised his cousin's young sons Xu and Yin as his own. When Xun Yi's line ended the court meant for Xun Song's son to inherit the ducal title. Pitying orphan Xu he yielded the title—critics praised him. He became chamberlain of ceremonies. While refurbishing the academy the court named nine royal doctoral chairs—for Wang's Zhou yi, Zheng's Documents, Kong's old-text Documents, Zheng's Mao Odes and Rites, Du's and Fu's Zuo, and Zheng's Analects and Filial Piety—and dropped the Ceremonies, Gongyang, Guliang, and Zheng's Changes. Xun Song disagreed and memorialized:
74
元帝詔曰：「崧表如此，皆經國之務。 為政所由。 息馬投戈，猶可講藝，今雖日不暇給，豈忘本而遺存邪！ 可共博議者詳之。」 議者多請從崧所奏。 詔曰：「《穀梁》膚淺，不足置博士，余如奏。」 會王敦之難，不行。
Emperor Yuan replied, 'Xun Song speaks to the state's essentials. They chart the foundations of sound rule. Even after arms we must teach the classics—busy though we are we cannot abandon roots! Let ministers debate them.' Most advisers sided with Xun Song. The edict kept only Guliang omitted; the rest followed his plea.' Wang Dun's rebellion prevented implementation.
75
敦表以崧為尚書左僕射。 及帝崩，群臣議廟號，王敦遣使謂曰：「豺狼當路，梓宮未反，祖宗之號，宜別思詳。」 崧議以為：「禮，祖有功，宗有德。 元皇帝天縱聖哲，光啟中興，德澤侔於太戊，功惠邁于漢宣，臣敢依前典，上號曰中宗。」 既而與敦書曰：「承以長蛇未翦，別詳祖宗。 先帝應天受命，以隆中興； 中興之主，寧可隨世數而遷毀！ 敢率丹直。 詢之朝野，上號中宗。 卜日有期，不及重請，專輒之愆，所不敢辭。」 初，敦待崧甚厚，欲以為司空，於此銜之而止。
Wang Dun named him left vice-director of the masters of writing. After Yuan's death Wang Dun's envoy urged delaying the temple name while dangers lingered.' Xun Song cited ritual: ancestors earn the title Zu when meritorious. Emperor Yuan Heaven-sent sage whose virtue matched Taewu and feats surpassed Han Xuandi—I propose Zhongzong.' He wrote Wang Dun: 'You cite unrest to postpone the temple debate. The late emperor received Heaven's mandate to revive Jin. Such a founder cannot wait on petty chronology! I speak plainly. Court and countryside agree on Zhongzong. The rites were scheduled—I could not await another petition though that risks offence.' Wang Dun had meant to make him minister of works—this letter ended that.
76
太寧初，加散騎常侍，後領太子太傅。 以平王敦功，更封平樂伯。 坐使威儀為猛獸所食，免職。 後拜金紫光祿大夫、錄尚書事，散騎常侍如故。 遷右光祿大夫、開府儀同三司，錄尚書如故。 又領秘書監，給親兵百二十人。 年雖衰老，而孜孜典籍，世以此嘉之。
Early in Taiping he became imperial attendant and later grand tutor to the heir apparent. For defeating Wang Dun he received the earldom of Pingyue. His ceremonial guards were devoured by a beast—he lost office. Later he became golden-purple grand master and overseer of the masters of writing while keeping his attendant post. He rose to right grand master with independent headquarters and kept recording duties. He also directed the palace library with a guard of one hundred twenty. Age did not dull his devotion to books—admired by all.
77
蘇峻之役，崧與王導、陸曄共登御床擁衛帝，及帝被逼幸石頭，崧亦侍從不離帝側。 賊平，帝幸溫嶠舟，崧時年老病篤，猶力步而從。 薨，時年六十七。 贈侍中，諡曰敬。
During Su Jun's coup he mounted the imperial couch with Wang Dao and Lu Ye to shield the emperor and stayed at his side in Stone Citadel. After victory he followed Emperor Ming to Wen Qiao's boat though aged and ill. He died at sixty-seven. He was posthumously named attendant-in-ordinary with epithet Jing.
78
其後著作郎虞預與丞相王導箋曰：「伏見前秘書、光祿大夫荀公，生於積德之族，少有儒雅之稱，歷位內外，在貴能降。 蘇峻肆虐，乘輿失幸，公處嫌忌之地，有累卵之危，朝士為之寒心，論者謂之不免。 而公將之以智，險而不懾，扶侍至尊，繾綣不離。 雖無扶迎之勳，宜蒙守節之報。 且其宣慈之美，早彰遠近，朝野之望，許以台司，雖未正位，已加儀同。 至守終純固，名定闔棺，而薨卒之日，直加侍中。 生有三槐之望，沒無鼎足之名，寵不增於前秩，榮不副於本望，此一時愚智所慷慨也。 今承大弊之後，淳風頹散，苟有一介之善，宜在旌表之例，而況國之元老，志節若斯者乎！」 不從。 ，崧改葬，詔賜錢百萬，布五千匹。 有二子：蕤、羨。 蕤嗣。
Yu Yu later wrote Wang Dao praising Xun Song's pedigree, scholarship, and humility. During Su Jun's terror he stood on eggshells yet critics expected him to fall. Yet he guided with wit, faced peril undaunted, and never left the sovereign. Though lacking escort feats he deserves reward for steadfast loyalty. His kindness was famed; court and countryside marked him for the Three Dukes—ceremony already matched though rank lagged. He died stainless yet gained only attendant-in-ordinary. Honoured in life yet slighted in death—every observer protested. After disaster even small merits deserve honour—how much more an elder statesman of such fibre!' The court refused. Later, when Xun Song was reburied, an edict granted one million cash and five thousand bolts. His sons were Xun Rui and Xun Xian. Xun Rui inherited.
80
子蕤
Xun Rui (his son)
81
=蕤字令遠。 起家秘書郎，稍遷尚書左丞。 蕤有儀操風望，雅為簡文帝所重。 時桓溫平蜀，朝廷欲以豫章郡封溫。 蕤言於帝曰：「若溫復假王威，北平河洛，修復園陵，將何以加此！」 於是乃止。 轉散騎常侍、少府，不拜，出補東陽太守。 除建威將軍、吳國內史。 卒官。 籍嗣位，至散騎常侍、大長秋。
Xun Rui, courtesy name Lingyuan, He began as palace secretary and rose to left aide in the masters of writing. His dignity won Emperor Jianwen's respect. After Huan Wen conquered Shu the court meant to grant him Yuzhang. Xun Rui told the emperor, 'If Huan Wen uses royal prestige to recover the north and restore the tombs, no title tops that.' The enfeoffment was dropped. He was offered attendant and junior steward, declined, and became governor of Dongyang. He received the titles general who establishes might and interior minister of Wu. He died in office. His son Xun Ji inherited and rose to attendant at large and grand prolonger of autumn.
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蕤第羨
Xun Xian (younger brother of Xun Rui)
84
=羨字令則。 清和有准。 才年七歲，遇蘇峻難，隨父在石頭，峻甚愛之，恆置膝上。 羨陰白其母，曰：「得一利刀子，足以殺賊。」 母掩其口，曰：「無妄言！」 年十五，將尚尋陽公主，羨不欲連婚帝室，仍遠遁去。 監司追，不獲已，乃出尚公主，拜駙馬都尉。 弱冠，與琅邪王洽齊名，沛國劉惔、太原王濛、陳郡殷浩並與交好。
Xun Xian, courtesy name Lingze, Serene and even-tempered. At seven during Su Jun's coup he stayed with his father in Stone Citadel; Su Jun doted on him and kept him on his lap. He whispered to his mother that a sharp knife would let him kill the rebel. His mother clapped a hand over his mouth and hushed him.' Betrothed to the Princess of Xunyang at fifteen, he fled rather than marry into the imperial clan. Officials ran him down; forced to comply he married and became consort commandant. At his capping he ranked with Wang Qia of Langye and enjoyed Liu Tan, Wang Meng, and Yin Hao.
85
驃騎將軍何充出鎮京口，請為參軍。 穆帝又以為撫軍參軍，征補太常博士，皆不就。 後拜秘書丞、義興太守。 征北將軍褚裒以為長史。 既到，裒謂佐吏曰：「荀生資逸群之氣，將有沖天之舉，諸君宜善事之。」 尋遷建威將軍、吳國內史。 除北中郎將、徐州刺史、監徐兗二州揚州之晉陵諸軍事、假節。 殷浩以羨在事有能名，故居以重任。 時年二十八，中興方伯，未有如羨之少者。 羨至鎮，發二州兵，使參軍鄭襲戍准陰。 羨尋北鎮准陰，屯田于東陽之石鱉。 尋加監青州諸軍事，又領兗州刺史，鎮下邳。 羨自鎮來朝，時蔡謨固讓司徒，不起，中軍將軍殷浩欲加大辟，以問於羨。 羨曰：「蔡公今日事危，明日必有桓文之舉。」 浩乃止。
He Chong, general of agile cavalry, asked him to serve as military aide at Jingkou. Emperor Mu named him aide on the pacification staff and offered a doctorate—he refused both. He later became assistant palace librarian and governor of Yixing. Chu Ai, general who conquers the north, made him chief clerk. On arrival Chu Ai told his staff, 'Xun Xian will rise sky-high—treat him well.' Soon he led Wu as general who establishes might. He commanded Xu and Yan, Jinling sector of Yangzhou, as general of the northern centre with credentials. Yin Hao gave him the post because of his proven talent. At twenty-eight he was the youngest frontier commander of the restoration. He mobilized Xu and Yan and posted Zheng Xi at Huaiyin. He moved north to Huaiyin and opened military colonies at Stone Turtle in Dongyang. He added Qingzhou oversight, became inspector of Yan, and camped at Xiapi. When Xun Xian attended court, Cai Mo refused the ministry; Yin Hao wanted him executed and consulted Xun Xian. Xun Xian said, 'Threatening Cai Mo today will breed a hegemon's coup tomorrow.' Yin Hao dropped the idea.
86
及慕容俊攻段蘭於青州，詔使羨救之。 俊將王騰、趙盤寇琅邪、鄄城，北境騷動。 羨討之，擒騰，盤迸走。 軍次琅邪，而蘭已沒，羨退還下邳，留將軍諸葛攸、高平太守劉莊等三千人守琅邪，參軍戴逯、蕭鎋二千人守泰山。 是時，慕容蘭以數萬眾屯汴城，甚為邊害。 羨自光水引汶通渠，至於東阿以征之。 臨陣，斬蘭。 帝將封之，羨固辭不受。
Murong Jun besieged Duan Lan in Qingzhou and an edict ordered Xun Xian to relieve him. Murong Jun's generals Wang Teng and Zhao Pan struck Langye and Juancheng. Xun Xian took Wang Teng and drove Zhao Pan off. Reaching Langye he learned Duan Lan had fallen; he withdrew to Xiapi, left Zhuge You and Liu Zhuang with three thousand men at Langye, and Dai Luo and Xiao Kan with two thousand at Taishan. Murong Lan camped tens of thousands at Bian city and harried the frontier. Xun Xian canalised from the Guang and Wen rivers toward Dong'e to attack. He slew Murong Lan in battle. The emperor wished to ennoble him but he refused.
87
先是，石季龍死，胡中大亂，羨撫納降附，甚得眾心。 以疾篤解職。 後除右軍將軍，加散騎常侍，讓不拜。 卒，時年三十八。 帝聞之，歎曰：「荀令則、王敬和相繼凋落，股肱腹心將復誰寄乎！」 追贈驃騎將軍。
After Shi Hu died Xun Xian welcomed refugees and won loyalty. Grave illness forced his resignation. Offered general of the right army and attendant at large—he declined. He died at thirty-eight. The emperor mourned, 'Xun Xian and Wang Tanzhi gone—where find new pillars!' He was posthumously named general of agile cavalry.
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范汪
Fan Wang
89
范汪，字玄平，雍州刺史晷之孫也。 父稚，蚤卒。 汪少孤貧，六歲過江，依外家新野庾氏。 荊州刺史王澄見而奇之，曰：「興范族者，必是子也。」 年十三，喪母，居喪盡禮，親鄰哀之。 及長，好學。 外氏家貧，無以資給，汪乃廬於園中，布衣蔬食，然薪寫書，寫畢，誦讀亦遍，遂博學多通，善談名理。 弱冠，至京師，屬蘇峻作難。 王師敗績，汪乃遁逃西歸。 庾亮、溫嶠屯兵尋陽，時行李斷絕，莫知峻之虛實，咸恐賊強，未敢輕進。 及汪至，嶠等訪之，汪曰：「賊政令不一，貪暴縱橫，滅亡已兆，雖強易弱。 朝廷有倒懸之急，宜時進討。」 嶠深納之。 是日，護軍、平南二府禮命交至，始解褐，參護軍事。 賊平，賜爵都鄉侯。 復為庾亮平西參軍、從討郭默，進爵亭侯。 辟司空郗鑒掾，除宛陵令。 復參亮征西軍事，轉州別駕。 汪為亮佐使十有餘年，甚相欽待。 轉鷹揚將軍、安遠護軍、武陵內史，徵拜中書侍郎。
Fan Wang, courtesy name Xuanping, was grandson of Fan Gui, inspector of Yongzhou. His father Fan Zhi died young. Orphaned and poor, he crossed south at six and lived with his Yu relatives in Xinyang. At thirteen he buried his mother with full rites that moved neighbors. In adulthood he pursued scholarship. Too poor for tutors he lived in the garden, copying texts until he mastered doctrine. Coming of age he reached the capital as Su Jun rebelled. When imperial troops lost he fled west. With communications cut, Yu Liang and Wen Qiao at Xunyang feared Su Jun. Fan Wang reported Su Jun's rabble was fractious and doomed. The court hung upside down—strike now. Wen Qiao agreed. Orders arrived from both guards the same day he took office. That day, summonses arrived from both the Protector of the Army and Pacify-the-South offices; only then did Fan Wang first enter service as a staff officer under the Protector of the Army. After the rebels were put down, he was granted the title of Metropolitan Village Marquis. He then served again on Yu Liang’s Pacify-the-West staff, joined the campaign against Guo Mo, and was promoted to pavilion marquis. Xi Jian summoned him as an aide, and he was appointed magistrate of Wanling. He returned to Yu Liang’s Campaigning-West staff and later became provincial aide. Fan Wang served Yu Liang for more than a decade, and the two treated one another with deep respect. He rose through General Who Raises Falcons, Protector of the Army Who Secures the Distant, and administrator of Wuling before being summoned as a Palace Secretariat gentleman.
90
時庾翼將悉郢漢之眾以事中原，軍次安陸，尋轉屯襄陽。 汪上疏曰：
At the time Yu Yi planned to throw the full strength of Ying and Han toward the Central Plains; his army first camped at Anlu, then soon moved to Xiangyang. Fan Wang submitted a memorial:
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臣伏思安西將軍翼今至襄陽，倉卒攻討，凡百草創，安陸之調，不復為襄陽之用。 而玄冬之月，沔漢乾涸，皆當魚貫百行，排推而進。 設一處有急，勢不相救。 臣所至慮一也。 又既至之後，桓宣當出。 宣往實翦豺狼之林，招攜貳之眾，待之以至寬，禦之以無法。 田疇墾辟，生產始立，而當移之，必有嗷然，悔吝難測。 臣所至慮二也。 襄陽頓益數萬口，奉師之費，皆當出於江南。 運漕之難，船人之力，不可不熟計。 臣之所至慮三也。 且申伯之尊，而與邊將並驅。 又東軍不進，殊為孤懸。 兵書云：「知彼知此，百戰不殆。 知彼不知此，一勝一負。」 賊誠衰弊，然得臣猶在； 我雖方隆，今實未暇。 而連兵不解，患難將起，臣所至慮四也。
General Yu Yi has now reached Xiangyang in haste; everything is being improvised, and the supplies raised for Anlu no longer suit Xiangyang. In deep winter the Mian and Han run shallow, forcing the columns to advance single file and push their way forward. If one sector is hit, the others will be unable to come to its rescue. That is my first great concern. Second, once Yu Yi arrives, Huan Xuan will have to be moved out. Huan Xuan had cleared out bandits, gathered the wavering population, and governed them with extraordinary leniency. The fields have only just been opened and livelihoods established; moving the people now would provoke distress and consequences hard to measure. That is my second great concern. Xiangyang has suddenly gained tens of thousands of mouths to feed, and the army’s costs will all fall on Jiangnan. River transport and the labor of boatmen must be calculated with care. That is my third great concern. Moreover, a man of Shen Bo’s dignity should not be treated as merely one frontier commander among others. If the eastern army fails to advance, he will be dangerously isolated. Miss ourselves and odds turn even. The foe weakens but retains able men. Jin rises yet remains unprepared. Jin rises yet remains unprepared for endless war. Unbroken campaigning courts disaster—that is my fourth fear.
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翼豈不知兵家所患常在於此，顧以門戶事任，憂責莫大，晏然終年，憂心情所安，是以抗表輒行，畢命原野。 以翼宏規經略，文武用命，忽遇釁會，大事便濟。 然國家之慮，常以萬全，非至安至審，王者不舉。 臣謂宜嚴詔諭翼，還鎮養銳，以為後圖。 若少合聖聽，乞密出臣表，與車騎臣冰等詳共集議。
Yu Yi knows soldiers dread such wars yet clan duty drives him to hazard his life. With Yu Yi's great design and willing officers, a sudden opportunity could win all. Yet the throne demands perfect security before it moves. Fan Wang urges an edict recalling Yu Yi to rebuild. If agreeable, circulate this memorial and debate with Yu Bing.
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尋而驃騎將軍何充輔政，請為長史。 桓溫代翼為荊州，復以汪為安西長史。 溫西征蜀，委以留府。 蜀平，進爵武興縣侯。 而溫頻請為長史、江州刺史，皆不就。 自請還京，求為東陽太守。 溫甚恨焉。 在郡大興學校，甚有惠政。 頃之，召入，頻遷中領軍、本州大中正。 時簡文帝作相，甚相親昵，除都督徐兗青冀四州揚州之晉陵諸軍事、安北將軍、徐兗二州刺史、假節。
He Chong soon invited him as chief clerk. When Huan Wen succeeded Yu Yi he retained Fan Wang as western pacification chief clerk. Fan Wang commanded headquarters during Huan Wen's Shu expedition. When Shu fell he received the marquisate of Wuxing county. He declined repeated offers as chief clerk or Jiangzhou inspector. He asked to leave the capital for Dongyang. Huan Wen deeply resented him. As governor he expanded schools and ruled kindly. Recalled to court he rose to central army commander and senior rectifier. Prince Sima Yu made him intimate colleague and regional commander with northern titles.
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既而桓溫北伐，令汪率文武出梁國，以失期，免為庶人。 朝廷憚溫不敢執，談者為之歎恨。 汪屏居吳郡，從容講肆，不言枉直。 後至姑孰，見溫。 溫時方起屈滯以傾朝廷，謂汪遠來詣己，傾身引望，謂袁宏曰：「范公來，可作太常邪？」 汪既至，才坐，溫謝其遠來意。 汪實來造溫，恐以趨時致損，乃曰：「亡兒瘞此，故來視之。」 溫殊失望而止。 時年六十五，卒於家。 贈散騎常侍，諡曰穆。 長子康嗣，早卒。 康弟寧，最知名。
Huan Wen's northern expedition ordered Fan Wang to Liang; missing his deadline cost him his rank. The court dared not challenge Huan Wen—observers groaned. Fan Wang retired to Wu, taught quietly, and avoided blame. Later he visited Gushu and met Huan Wen. Huan Wen was promoting marginal men and hoped Fan Wang had come to join him; he asked Yuan Hong whether Fan might take the chamberlain post. Fan Wang barely sat down while Huan Wen thanked him for coming. Fan Wang had actually come only to visit Huan Wen yet feared seeming opportunist; he said he came to tend a son's grave. Huan Wen was bitterly disappointed and dropped the matter. He died at sixty-five at home. Posthumously named attendant-in-ordinary with epithet Mu. His heir Fan Kang died young. Fan Kang's brother Fan Ning was most famous.
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子寧
Fan Ning (his son)
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=寧字武子。 少篤學，多所通覽。 簡文帝為相，將辟之，為桓溫所諷，遂寢不行。 故終溫之世，兄弟無在列位者。 時以浮虛相扇，儒雅日替，寧以為其源始于王弼、何晏，二人之罪深於桀紂，乃著論曰：
Fan Ning, courtesy name Wuzi, He studied deeply and read widely. Prince Sima Yu meant to summon him but Huan Wen blocked it. Through Huan Wen's dominance none of the brothers served. As Pure Conversation corroded learning Fan Ning blamed Wang Bi and He Yan and opened a polemic:
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或曰：「黃唐緬邈，至道淪翳，濠濮輟詠，風流靡托，爭奪兆于仁義，是非成於儒墨。 平叔神懷超絕，輔嗣妙思通微，振千載之頹綱，落周孔之塵網。 斯蓋軒冕之龍門，濠梁之宗匠。 嘗聞夫子之論，以為罪過桀紂，何哉？」
Critics praised Wang and He for redeeming the Way—Fan's opponent asks why Fan calls them worse than tyrants. They cite Wang Bi's brilliance and He Yan's metaphysics. They call them masters of high office and Zhuangzi's stream. Why then does Fan treat them as worse than infamous tyrants?'
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答曰：「子信有聖人之言乎？ 夫聖人者，德侔二儀，道冠三才，雖帝皇殊號，質文異制，而統天成務，曠代齊趣。 王何蔑棄典文，不遵禮度，遊辭浮說，波蕩後生，飾華言以翳實，騁繁文以惑世。 搢紳之徒，翻然改轍，洙泗之風，緬焉將墮。 遂令仁義幽淪，儒雅蒙塵，禮壞樂崩，中原傾覆。 古之所謂言偽而辯、行僻而堅者，其斯人之徒歟！ 昔夫子斬少正于魯，太公戮華士于齊，豈非曠世而同誅乎！ 桀紂暴虐，正足以滅身覆國，為後世鑒誡耳，豈能回百姓之視聽載！ 王何叨海內之浮譽，資膏粱之傲誕，畫螭魅以為巧，扇無檢以為俗。 鄭聲之亂樂，利口之覆邦，信矣哉！ 吾固以為一世之禍輕，歷代之罪重，自喪之釁小，迷眾之愆大也。」
Fan Ning replied, 'Do you credit the sages? True sages unify Heaven, earth, and man regardless of era. Wang Bi and He Yan abandoned the canon, ritual, and substance for flashy paradox. Gentry switched to dark learning and Confucius's teaching faltered. Hence morality collapsed, classical education failed, and the Central Plain fell. They match the ancients' warning against slick heresy. Confucius slew Shaozheng; Taigong slew Huashi—heresy meets the same fate. Tyrants merely ruined themselves—Wang He blinded an age. They traded on fame and luxury, celebrating unrestrained wit. Like Confucius's warnings against licentious music and glib ruin. Fan Ning concludes their intellectual crime outweighs dynastic disasters.'
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寧崇儒抑俗，率皆如此。
Fan Ning upheld Confucian orthodoxy in this vein.
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溫薨之後，始解褐為余杭令，在縣興學校，養生徒，潔己修禮，志行之士莫不宗之。 期年之後，風化大行。 自中興已來，崇學敦教，未有如寧者也。 在職六年，遷臨淮太守，封陽遂鄉侯。 頃之，徵拜中書侍郎。 在職多所獻替，有益政道。 時更營新廟，博求辟雍、明堂之制，寧據經傳奏上，皆有典證。 孝武帝雅好文學，甚被親愛，朝廷疑議，輒諮訪之。 寧指斥朝士，直言無諱。
Once Huan Wen died he became magistrate of Yuhang, founded schools, and drew scholars. Within a year customs improved. None since the eastern court matched his educational zeal. After six years he governed Linhai and received a village marquisate. Soon recalled as palace secretary. At court his counsel improved policy. When new temples were planned he cited classics for the Bright Hall layout. Emperor Xiaowu favoured him and consulted him on doubts. Fan Ning rebuked peers bluntly.
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王國寶，寧之甥也，以諂媚事會稽王道子，懼為寧所不容，乃相驅扇，因被疏隔。 求補豫章太守，帝曰：「豫章不宜太守，何急以身試死邪？」 寧不信卜占，固請行，臨發，上疏曰：「臣聞道尚虛簡，政貴平靜，坦公亮於幽顯，流子愛于百姓，然後可以經夷險而不憂，乘休否而常夷。 先王所以致太平，如此而已。 今四境晏如，烽燧不舉，而倉庾虛秏，帑藏空匱。 古者使人，歲不過三日，今之勞擾，殆無三日休停，至有殘刑翦發，要求復除，生兒不復舉養，鰥寡不敢妻娶。 豈不怨結人鬼，感傷和氣。 臣恐社稷之憂，積薪不足以為喻。 臣久欲粗啟所懷，日復一日。 今當永離左右，不欲令心有餘恨。 請出臣啟事，付外詳擇。」 帝詔公卿牧守普議得失，寧又陳時政曰：
His nephew Wang Guobao curried Sima Daozi and estranged Fan Ning. He asked for Yuzhang; the emperor warned it was perilous. Fan Ning ignored auguries and memorialized on upright rule before leaving. Ancient sage-kings achieved peace exactly thus. Though borders were quiet state stores were draining. Corvée crushed families worse than ancient limits. Such hardship breeds human and natural ill omens. The peril surpasses kindling awaiting spark. Long he wished to speak. About to leave court he spoke plainly. He asked to circulate his memorial. The emperor ordered discussion; Fan Ning added advice.
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帝善之。
The emperor approved.
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初，寧之出，非帝本意，故所啟多合旨。 寧在郡又大設庠序，遣人往交州采磬石，以供學用，改革舊制，不拘常憲。 遠近至者千餘人，資給眾費，一出私祿。 並取郡四姓子弟，皆充學生，課續五經。 又起學台，功用彌廣，江州刺史王凝之上言曰：「豫章郡居此州之半。 太守臣寧入參機省，出宰名郡，而肆其奢濁，所為狼籍。 郡城先有六門，寧悉改作重樓，復更開二門，合前為八。 私立下舍七所。 臣伏尋宗廟之設，各有品秩，而寧自置家廟。 又下十五縣，皆使左宗廟，右社稷，准之太廟，皆資人力，又奪人居宅，工夫萬計。 寧若以古制宜崇，自當列上，而敢專輒，惟在任心。 州既聞知，既符從事，制不復聽。 而寧嚴威屬縣，惟令速立。 願出臣表下太常，議之禮典。」 詔曰：「漢宣云：可與共治天下者，良二千石也！ 若范寧果如凝之所表者，豈可復宰郡乎！」 以此抵罪。 子泰時為天門太守，棄官稱訴。 帝以寧所務惟學，事久不判。 會赦，免。
Fan Ning's postings had not been the emperor's wish. As governor he expanded schools and imported ritual stones. Over a thousand students came at his personal expense. He enrolled local elite youths in Five Classics study. He built a lecture hall; Wang Ningzhi impeached his extravagance. Wang accused Fan Ning of corrupt luxury. Fan widened gates and towers. He built seven private lodges. He erected an improper family shrine. He forced counties to build twin shrines at vast labour. Fan acted without imperial approval. The province had ordered him to stop. Fan coerced counties to rush construction. Wang asked the chamberlain to judge ritual propriety. The emperor cited Han Xuandi on good governors. If Fan Ning matched the charges he could not govern. Fan Ning faced impeachment. His son Fan Tai quit office to plead his case. The emperor delayed judgment citing Fan's scholarly aims. An amnesty freed him.
105
初，寧嘗患目痛就中書侍郎張湛求方，湛因嘲之曰：「古方，宋陽裏子少得其術，以授魯東門伯，魯東門伯以授左丘明，遂世也上傳。 及漢杜子夏鄭康成、魏高堂隆、晉左太沖，凡此諸賢，並有目疾，得此方云：用損讀書一，減思慮二，專內視三，簡外觀四，旦晚起五，夜早眠六。 凡六物熬以神火，下以氣簁，蘊於胸中七日，然後納諸方寸。 修之一時，近能數其目睫，遠視尺捶之餘。 長服不已，洞見牆壁之外。 非但明目，乃亦延年。」 既免官，家於丹陽，猶勤經學，終年不輟。 年六十三，卒於家。
Fan Ning sought eye medicine; Zhang Zhan mocked him with a fake pedigree for the cure. The joke lists scholars with eye trouble and prescribes rest. The six disciplines must stew in the breast seven days before settling in the mind. Practice yields keen sight. Persist and see through walls. It lengthens life too.' Dismissed, he taught in Danyang. He died at sixty-three.
106
初，寧以《春秋穀梁氏》未有善釋，遂沈思積年，為之集解。 其義精審，為世所重。 既而徐邈復為之注，世亦稱之。
He compiled a commentary on the Guliang. Scholars prized its precision. Xu Miao's later commentary won praise too.
107
子泰，元熙中，為護軍將軍。
Fan Tai became protector general under Yuanxi.
108
汪叔堅
Fan Shujian
109
堅字子常。 博學善屬文。 永嘉中，避亂江東，拜佐著作郎、撫軍參軍。 討蘇峻，賜爵都亭侯。 累遷尚書右丞。 時廷尉奏殿中帳吏邵廣盜官幔三張，合布三十匹，有司正刑棄市。 廣二子，宗年十三，雲年十一，黃幡撾登聞鼓乞恩，辭求自沒為奚官奴，以贖父命。 尚書郎硃暎議以為天下之人父，無子者少，一事遂行，便成永制，懼死罪之刑，於此而弛。 堅亦同暎議。 時議者以廣為鉗徒，二兒沒入，既足以懲，又使百姓知父子道，聖朝有垂恩之仁。 可特聽減廣死罪為五歲刑，宗等付奚官為奴，而不為永制。 堅駁之曰：「自淳樸澆散，刑辟仍作，刑之所以止刑，殺之所以止殺。 雖時有赦過宥罪，議獄緩死，未有行小不忍而輕易典刑也。 且既許宗等，宥廣以死，若復有宗比而不求贖父者，豈得不擯絕人倫，同之禽獸邪！ 案主者今奏-{云}-，惟特聽宗等而不為永制。 臣以為王者之作，動關盛衰，嚬笑之間，尚慎所加，況于國典，可以徒虧！ 今之所以宥廣，正以宗等耳。 人之愛父，誰不如宗？ 今既居然許宗之請，將來訴者，何獨匪民！ 特聽之意，未見其益； 不以為例，交興怨讟。 此為施一恩於今，而開萬怨於後也。」 成帝從之，正廣死刑。 後遷護軍長史，卒官。
Fan Jian, courtesy name Zichang, Learned and skilled at composition. During Yongjia he fled south and joined the editorial staff. For suppressing Su Jun he received a village marquisate. He rose to right aide in the masters of writing. The commandant of justice reported that Shao Guang, a clerk of the palace tents, had stolen three government curtains—the cloth totaled thirty bolts—and the authorities sentenced him to public execution in the marketplace. His sons Zong, thirteen, and Yun, eleven, marched under yellow banners to the appeal drum, begging mercy and offering to enter the eunuch bureau as slaves if their father's life might be spared. Secretary Zhu Ying argued that few fathers in the realm lack sons—if this one ruling stood as precedent, capital punishment would quietly erode. Wang Jian sided with Zhu Ying. Commentators suggested branding Guang as a convict and confiscating his sons—punishment enough—while teaching the people filial duty and showcasing imperial mercy. They proposed sparing Guang execution for five years of hard labor, assigning Zong and his brother to the eunuch bureau, without fixing that as binding precedent. Wang Jian objected: 'Once plain virtue gave way, penal law multiplied—punishment exists to end punishment, killing to end killing. Even when rulers forgave offenses or stayed executions, none lightly rewrote the code simply because killing felt cruel. And once we indulge Zong and spare Guang, every similar case will demand the same—anyone who fails to ransom his father would be cast outside humanity. Your memorial speaks only of a one-time exception for Zong—not a standing rule. Royal decrees steer fortune itself; even a glance or a laugh demands care—far less may national law be chipped away on a whim. The only reason to spare Guang is those boys. Who loves his father less than Zong did? Having blessed Zong's plea, do you imagine future petitioners will be anyone other than ordinary people clamoring for the same? The good of a one-off waiver is unclear; While refusing to bind precedent will breed mutual bitterness and blame. That trades one favor now for myriad grievances later.' Emperor Cheng accepted his argument and affirmed Guang's execution. He was later promoted to chief clerk of the guards army and died in that post.
110
子啟，字榮期，雖經學不及堅，而以才義顯於當世。 于時清談之士庾龢、韓伯、袁宏等，並相知友。 為秘書郎，累居顯職，終於黃門侍郎。 父子並有文筆傳於世。
His son Qi, courtesy name Rongqi, never matched his father's classical scholarship but won renown for talent and integrity. He befriended the leading qingtan figures of the day—Yu He, Han Bo, Yuan Hong, and their circle. He rose from palace secretary through prominent offices to gentleman attendant at the yellow gates. Father and son both left writings that circulated widely.
111
劉惔
Liu Tan
112
劉惔，字真長，沛國相人也。 祖宏，字終嘏，光祿勳。 宏兄粹，字純嘏，侍中。 宏弟潢，字沖嘏，吏部尚書。 並有名中朝。 時人語曰：「洛中雅雅有三嘏。」 父耽，晉陵太守，亦知名。 惔少清遠，有標奇，與母任氏寓居京口，家貧，織芒屩以為養，雖蓽門陋巷，晏如也。 人未之識，惟王導深器之。 後稍知名，論者比之袁羊。 惔喜，還告其母。 其母，聰明婦人也，謂之曰：「此非汝比，勿受之。」 又有方之范汪者。 惔復喜，母又不聽。 及惔年德轉升，論者遂比之荀粲。 尚明帝女廬陵公主。 以惔雅善言理，簡文帝初作相，與王濛並為談客，俱蒙上賓禮。 時孫盛作《易象妙於見形論》，帝使殷浩難之，不能屈。 帝曰：「使真長來，故應有以制之。」 乃命迎惔。 盛素敬服惔，及至，便與抗答，辭甚簡至，盛理遂屈。 一坐撫掌大笑，咸稱美之。
Liu Tan, courtesy name Zhenchang, came from Xiang in the state of Pei. His grandfather Liu Hong, courtesy name Zhonggu, served as superintendent of the imperial household. Hong's elder brother Liu Cui, courtesy name Chungu, was a palace attendant. Hong's younger brother Liu Huang, courtesy name Chonggu, headed the ministry of personnel. All three were celebrated figures at the Jin court. A contemporary rhyme ran: 'In Luoyang the refined trio bear the name Gu.' His father Liu Dan governed Jinling and was likewise eminent. Tan was aloof and luminous even young; he lived with his mother Lady Ren at Jingkou. They were poor and lived by weaving straw sandals; wicker gate and shabby lane left him untroubled. Few saw his quality—only Wang Dao grasped how exceptional he was. As his name spread, critics likened him to Yuan Yang. Delighted, Tan hurried home to tell his mother. She was shrewd: 'That man is beneath you—do not welcome the comparison.' Soon someone ranked him beside Fan Wang. Tan glowed again; again she forbade it. Only when Tan had matured in age and reputation did critics dare compare him to Xun Can. He married Emperor Ming's daughter, the Princess of Luling. Tan probed principle in conversation so keenly that when the future Emperor Jianwen first headed the secretariat, he and Wang Meng became his salon regulars and received the honors reserved for chief guests. Sun Sheng had written "On the Wonder of the Images of the Changes Surpassing Visible Form"; the prince assigned Yin Hao to debate it, yet Yin could not break it. He said, 'Let Zhenchang take the floor—he will find a way to corner it.' He sent for Liu Tan. Sun Sheng already revered Tan; when Tan arrived they sparred head-on in spare, precise language until Sun's thesis collapsed. The room erupted in applause and laughter; everyone praised him.
113
累遷丹陽尹。 為政清整，門無雜賓。 時百姓頗有訟官長者，諸郡往往有相舉正，惔歎曰：「夫居下訕上，此弊道也。 古之善政，司契而已，豈不以其敦本正源，鎮靜流末乎！ 君雖不君，下安可以失禮。 若此風不革，百姓將往而不反。」 遂寢而不問。
He rose by stages to governor of Danyang. His rule was crisp and disciplined; no stray callers cluttered his door. Commoners were suing their magistrates, and neighbouring prefectures egged one another on. Tan sighed, 'Subjects ridiculing superiors rots the order below. The ancients governed by holding the tally—because they steadied the root, the branches stayed calm. Even when the ruler misrules, how may inferiors cast off ritual? Unless this habit ends, the people will drift away and never come back.' He shelved the suits and investigated nothing.
114
性簡貴，與王羲之雅相友善。 郗愔有傖奴善知文章，羲之愛之，每稱奴於惔。 惔曰：「何如方回邪？」 羲之曰：「小人耳，何比郗公！」 惔曰：「若不如方回，故常奴耳。」 桓溫嘗問惔：「會稽王談更進邪？」 惔曰：「極進，然故第二流耳。」 溫曰：「第一復誰？」 惔曰：「故在我輩。」 其高自標置如此。
Reserved and fastidious by temperament, he was intimate with Wang Xizhi. Xi Yin kept a rough-hewn slave who could write; Xizhi adored him and kept praising the man to Tan. Tan asked, 'How does he measure against Fanghui?' Xizhi replied, 'A menial—how could he rank with Lord Xi?' Tan said, 'Then he remains a slave—nothing more.' Huan Wen once asked whether the Prince of Kuaiji's talks had deepened. Tan answered, 'Greatly—but still second tier.' Wen pressed, 'Who counts as first?' Tan said, 'Still our own circle.' Such was the height at which he ranked himself.
115
惔每奇溫才，而知其有不臣之跡。 及溫為荊州，惔言於帝曰：「溫不可使居形勝地，其位號常宜抑之。」 勸帝自鎮上流，而己為軍司，帝不納。 又請自行，復不聽。 及溫伐蜀，時咸謂未易可制，惟惔以為必克。 或問其故，云：「以蒱博驗之，其不必得，則不為也。 恐溫終專制朝廷。」 及後竟如其言。 嘗薦吳郡張憑，憑卒為美士，眾以此服其知人。
Tan admired Huan Wen's gifts yet saw the makings of treason in him. When Wen took Jingzhou, Tan warned the emperor, 'Never leave him astride strategic ground—keep his titles and rank under constant restraint.' He urged the emperor to command the upper river himself while Tan served as army chief of staff; the emperor refused. He volunteered to go himself; again permission was denied. When Wen marched on Shu, the court assumed it near impossible; Tan alone insisted Wen would win. Asked why, he said, 'Watch him at dice and board—he never gambles unless the odds favor him. He feared Wen would end by bending the capital to his will.' Later history bore him out. He nominated Zhang Ping of Wu commandery; Ping proved an outstanding gentleman, and observers praised Tan's eye for men.
116
尤好《老莊》，任自然趣。 疾篤，百姓欲為之祈禱，家人又請祭神，惔曰：「丘之禱久矣。」 年三十六，卒官。 孫綽為之誄云：「居官無官官之事，處事無事事之心。」 時人以為名言。 後綽嘗詣褚裒，言及惔，流涕曰：「可謂人之云亡，邦國殄瘁。」 裒大怒曰：「真長生平何嘗相比數，而卿今日作此面向人邪！」 其為名流所敬重如此。
He cherished the Laozi and Zhuangzi and lived by spontaneous inclination. When death neared, locals wished to pray for him and his kin wished to sacrifice; Tan quoted Confucius—'Qiu has prayed long enough.' He died in office at thirty-six. Sun Chuo's elegy said, 'He held office yet seemed beyond office; he faced affairs yet kept no grasping mind.' His contemporaries pronounced it a perfect epitaph. Later Chuo visited Chu Pou, spoke of Tan, and wept, 'When men like this vanish, the realm withers.' Pou flared, 'Zhenchang never counted you among his peers—why parade such grief before others?' Such was the esteem the leading gentlemen paid him.
117
張憑
Zhang Ping
118
張憑，字長宗。 祖鎮，蒼梧太守。 憑年數歲。 鎮謂其父曰：「我不如汝有佳兒。」 憑曰：「阿翁豈宜以子戲父邪！」 及長，有志氣，為鄉閭所稱。 舉孝廉，負其才，自謂必參時彥。 初，欲詣惔，鄉里及同舉者共笑之。 既至，惔處之下坐，神意不接，憑欲自發而無端。 會王就濛惔清言，有所不通，憑於末坐判之，言旨深遠，足暢彼我之懷，一坐皆驚。 惔延之上坐，清言彌日，留宿至旦遣之。 憑既還船，須臾，惔遣傳教覓張孝廉船，便召與同載，遂言之于簡文帝。 帝召與語，歎曰：「張憑勃窣為理窟。」 官至吏部郎、御史中丞。
Zhang Ping, courtesy name Changzong. His grandfather Zhang Zhen governed Cangwu. Ping was still a small child. Zhen told Ping's father, 'You surpass me in bearing a worthy son.' Ping shot back, 'Grandfather should not mock father through the son.' Grown, he showed drive and was praised in his district. Recommended filial and incorrupt, he trusted his abilities and expected to walk among the age's leading talents. When he first meant to call on Liu Tan, neighbors and fellow nominees laughed him down. Tan placed him on a low seat and barely acknowledged him; Zhang burned to speak yet found no opening. When Wang Meng joined Liu Tan in pure conversation and stumbled over a point, Zhang Ping from the lowliest seat untangled it—his insight so deep it illuminated both sides—and the room gasped. Tan moved him to the place of honor; they talked until nightfall and Tan lodged him, sending him off at dawn. Hardly back aboard his boat, Tan sent runners to find Filial-and-Incorrupt Zhang's vessel, pulled him into a shared carriage, and commended him to Emperor Jianwen. The emperor received him and sighed, 'Zhang Ping seems awkward as a rustic, yet he houses every subtle doctrine.' He rose to director of personnel selection and imperial censor-in-chief.
119
韓伯
Han Bo
120
韓伯，字康伯，潁川長社人也。 母殷氏，高明有行。 家貧窶，伯年數歲，至大寒，母方為作襦，令伯捉熨斗，而謂之曰：「且著襦，尋當作復褌。」 伯曰：「不復須。」 母問其故，對曰：「火在鬥中，而柄尚熱，今既著襦，下亦當暖。」 母甚異之。 及長，清和有思理，留心文藝。 舅殷浩稱之曰：「康伯能自標置，居然是出群之器。」 潁川庾龢名重一時，少所推服，常稱伯及王坦之曰：「思理倫和，我敬韓康伯； 志力強正，吾愧王文度。 自此以還，吾皆百之矣。」
Han Bo, courtesy name Kangbo, hailed from Changshe in Yingchuan. His mother Lady Yin was acute and virtuous. They were destitute; Bo was still tiny. One bitter winter his mother sewed him a lined jacket while he steadied the iron; she said, 'Wear this first—I will stitch lined trousers next.' Bo answered, 'There will be no need.' She asked why. He said the coals heat the bowl of the iron yet the handle already burns; with the jacket warming his chest, his legs would soon follow. His mother marveled at the boy. As an adult he was serene, thoughtful, and devoted to literature and arts. His uncle Yin Hao said, 'Kangbo sets his own standard—he is clearly no ordinary talent.' Yu He of Yingchuan towered over his generation and rarely praised others; he often ranked Han Bo beside Wang Tanzhi: 'For lucid reasoning and balanced relation I defer to Han Kangbo; for force of purpose and firm integrity I bow to Wang Wendu. Beside those two I count myself at one to their hundred.'
121
舉秀才，征佐著作郎，並不就。 簡文帝居籓，引為談客，自司徒左西屬轉撫軍掾、中書郎、散騎常侍、豫章太守，入為侍中。 陳郡周勰為謝安主簿，居喪廢禮，崇尚莊老，脫落名教。 伯領中正，不通勰，議曰：「拜下之敬，猶違眾從禮。 情理之極，不宜以多比為通。」 時人憚焉。」 識者謂伯可謂澄世所不能澄，而裁世所不能裁者矣，與夫容己順眾者，豈得同時而共稱哉！
They nominated him as a cultivated talent and summoned him as assistant editor of the palace library; he took neither post. While Emperor Jianwen still held his princely domain, he kept Han Bo as a salon guest. Han Bo moved from aide under the minister of education to secretary on the heir's staff, palace secretary, attendant at scattered cavalry, governor of Yuzhang, and finally palace attendant at court. Zhou Xie of Chen served Xie An as chief clerk; in mourning he cast off ritual, exalted Zhuangzi and Laozi, and shrugged off orthodox teaching. As regional appraiser Han Bo refused to certify Zhou; he argued that bowing in reverence means defying fashion to honor rite. When feeling and principle reach their limit, broad indulgence cannot pass for sound judgment. His contemporaries respected—and feared—him for it. Thoughtful observers said Han Bo clarified what the age could not clarify and cut through what the age could not settle—how line him up with men who smooth their own way and follow the mob?
122
王坦之又嘗著《公謙論》，袁宏作論以難之。 伯覽而美其辭旨，以為是非既辯，誰與正之，遂作《辯謙》以折中曰：
Wang Tanzhi had written On Public Modesty; Yuan Hong answered with a counter-essay. Han Bo admired Yuan's rhetoric but, once both sides had argued, saw no arbiter—so he wrote Disputing Modesty to mediate. He began:
123
夫尋理辯疑，必先定其名分所存。 所存既明，則彼我之趣可得而詳也。 夫謙之為義，存乎降己者也。 以高從卑，以賢同鄙，故謙名生焉。 孤寡不穀，人之所惡，而侯王以自稱，降其貴者也。 執禦執射，眾之所賤，而君子以自目，降其賢才也。 與夫山在地中之象，其致豈殊哉！ 舍此二者，而更求其義，雖南轅求冥，終莫近也。
To trace a doctrine and settle doubt you must first settle where titles and duties lie. Once those are fixed, you can spell out what self and other each intend. Modesty means lowering yourself. The lofty stoops to the low, the worthy meets the mean—hence the word modesty. Rulers call themselves orphan, solitary, unworthy—terms commoners hate—to humble their own rank. Charlotry and archery are low trades, yet the gentleman claims them as his roles—another way to mute his gifts. It is the same spirit as the hexagram image of a mountain inside the earth. Beyond these images, groping for modesty's sense is like driving south to find night—you never arrive.
124
夫有所貴，故有降焉； 夫有所美，故有謙焉。 譬影響之與形聲，相與而立。 道足者，忘貴賤而一賢愚； 體公者，乘理當而均彼我。 降挹之義，于何而生！ 則謙之為美，固不可以語至足之道，涉乎大方之家矣。 然君子之行己，必尚於至當，而必造乎匿善。 至理在乎無私，而動之於降己者何？ 誠由未能一觀於能鄙，則貴賤之情立； 非忘懷於彼我，則私己之累存。 當其所貴在我則矜，值其所賢能之則伐。 處貴非矜，而矜己者常有其貴； 言善非伐，而伐善者驟稱其能。 是以知矜貴之傷德者，故宅心於卑素； 悟驟稱之虧理者，故情存於不言。 情存於不言，則善斯匿矣； 宅心於卑素，則貴斯降矣。 夫所況君子之流，苟理有未盡，情有未夷，存我之理未冥於內，豈不同心於降挹洗之所滯哉！ 體有而擬無者，聖人之德； 有累而存理者，君子之情。 雖所滯不同，其於遣情之累緣有弊而用，降己之道由私我而存，一也。 故懲忿窒欲，著於《損》象； 卑以自牧，實系《謙》爻。 皆所以存其所不足，拂其所有餘者也。
Honor implies the gesture of lowering. Excellence invites the language of modesty. They pair like shadow to form, echo to voice. Those complete in the Way forget rank and treat sage and fool alike. Those who embody fairness ride what is fitting and weigh self against others evenly. Then where does lowering oneself still matter? Thus modesty's praise cannot describe someone already full of the Way or admitted to the greatest teaching. Still, the gentleman pursues perfect fitness and learns to hide his goodness. The highest pattern is selfless—why rehearse self-effacement? Because talent and mediocrity still look different to us, pride and shame persist; until other and self dissolve, private craving dogs us. We preen when we prize ourselves; we boast when we fancy our powers. High rank need not breed arrogance, yet the vain cling to rank. Speaking of virtue need not be bragging, yet braggarts parade every gift. Knowing pride in station corrupts character, they settle the mind in lowliness and plain cloth; knowing loud self-praise breaks truth, they guard meaning in silence. Silence hides the good; humility lowers the show of nobility. So long as doctrine stays unfinished and feeling unsettled—so long as 'I' lingers within—the gentleman still trains on humility, yielding, and rinsing away attachment. To seem empty while holding fullness is the sage's virtue; to bear burden yet keep principle is the gentleman's temper. Their knots differ, yet both use imperfect tools to shed passion's weight; both paths humble the self because private mind remains—the logic is the same. Thus curbing wrath and desire belongs to the symbol of Diminishing; grounding yourself to be governed belongs to the lines of Modesty. Both shore up what you lack and scrape away what you hoard.
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王生之談，以至理無謙，近得之矣。 -{云}-人有爭心，善不可收，假後物之跡，以逃動者之患，以語聖賢則可，施之於下斯者，豈惟逃患於外。 亦所以洗心於內也。
Master Wang's claim that perfect principle leaves no room for modesty nearly hits truth. The text adds that people nurse rivalry and scatter their goodness; borrowing outward gestures to dodge unsettled impulse may suit discourse about sages, yet applied to ordinary folk it does more than ward trouble outside. It also scrubs the heart within.
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轉丹陽尹、吏部尚書、領軍將軍。 既疾病，占候者云：「不宜此官。」 朝廷改授太常，未拜，卒，時年四十九，即贈太常。 子璯，官至衡陽太守。
He rotated through governor of Danyang, minister of personnel, and commanding general of the guards. When illness set in, diviners warned he should not hold that command. The court switched him to grand master of ceremonies; before he could assume the post he died at forty-nine and was posthumously titled grand master of ceremonies. His son Han Xuan rose to governor of Hengyang.
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史評
Historian's appraisal
128
史臣曰：王湛門資臺鉉，地處膏腴，識表鄰機，才惟王佐。 葉宣尼之遠契，玩道韋編； 遵伯陽之幽旨，含虛牝穀。 所謂天質不雕，合于大樸者也。 安期英姿挺秀，籍甚一時，朝野挹其風流，人倫推其表燭。 雖崇勳懋績有闕于旂常，素德清規足傳于汗簡矣。 懷祖鑒局夷遠，沖衿玉粹。 坦之牆宇疑曠，逸操金貞。 騰諷庾之良箋，情嗤語怪； 演《廢莊》之宏論，道煥崇儒。 或寄重文昌，允釐於袞職； 或任華綸閣，密勿于王言。 咸能克著徽音，保其榮秩，美矣！ 國寶檢行無聞，坐升彼相，混暗識於心鏡，開險路于情田。 于時疆埸多虞，憲章罕備，天子居綴旒之連，人臣微覆餗之憂。 於是竊勢擁權，黷明王之彝典； 窮奢縱侈，假凶豎之餘威。 繡桷雕楹，陵跨於宸極； 麗珍冶質，充牣于帷房。 亦猶犬彘腴肥，不知禍之將及。 告盡私室，固其宜哉！ 荀景猷履孝居忠，無慚往烈。 范玄平陳謀獻策，有會時機。 崧則思業該通，緝遺經於已紊。 汪則風飆直亮，抗高節於將顛，揚榷而言，俱為雅士。 劉韓俊爽，標置軼群，勝氣籠霄，飛談卷霧，並蘭芬菊耀，無絕於終古矣。
The historians write: Wang Zhan inherited ministerial pedigree and fertile home ground; his insight touched subtle craft; his gifts matched a king's counselor. He shared Confucius's long kinship with learning, wearing through bamboo strips as he studied the Way; he pursued Laozi's hidden teaching and sheltered void within valley and dark female. They call this native substance uncarved—kin to the Great Uncarved Block. Wang Cheng ('Anqi') towered in heroic grace; his name shook the age; court and countryside savored his manner; peers named him their beacon. Grand deeds might miss the battle banners, yet plain virtue and stainless example earn space on the bamboo slips. Wang Shu ('Huai zu') read situations with calm breadth; his breast stayed pure as polished jade. Wang Tanzhi's scope seemed boundless; his conduct rang clear as metal. He broadcast satire on a frank memorial from the Yu clan and mocked occult talk with acidic wit; he broadcast Discarding Zhuangzi and let Confucian teaching blaze forth. Some bore the Ministry of Personnel and steadied the minister's burden; others drafted rescripts in the splendid archive and polished imperial language. All left shining reputations and kept honorable stations—admirable men. Wang Guobao showed no merit yet vaulted to chancellor; he smeared his inward mirror and plowed a crooked furrow through passion. The frontiers were restless, statutes threadbare; the emperor dangled like warning tassels while ministers barely feared spoiling the cauldron. Guobao seized borrowed force and debased the royal pattern; he chased luxury on the coattails of a brutal favorite. Embroidered beams and carved columns outreached the throne; fine gems and polished beauties packed the inner chambers. Like hogs fattened for slaughter, he never saw disaster coming. He died in private rooms—exactly the fate he earned. Xun Song ('Jingyou') walked filial piety and loyal service—worthy of older heroes. Fan Wang ('Xuanping') offered timely counsel when it mattered. Xun Song ranged every study and rewove scattered classics. Fan Wang blazed straight as wind and lightning, holding integrity as the state tottered—in sum, both were gentlemen of taste. Liu Tan and Han Bo were lucid and bold, loftier than their peers; their spirit veiled the sky, their talk swept away mist—orchid scent and chrysanthemum fire that history will not fade.
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贊曰：處沖純懿，是稱奇器。 養素虛庭，同塵下位。 雅道雖屈，高風不墜。 猗歟後胤，世傳清德。 帝室馳芬，士林揚則。 國寶庸暗，託意驕奢。 既豐其屋，終蔀其家。 荀范令望，金聲遠暢。 劉韓秀士，珠談間起。 異術同華，葳蕤青史。
The encomium says: Chuchong's purity marked him a vessel apart. He nourished simplicity in an empty court and shared the world's dust from humble rank. Though refinement faltered, his lofty tone never fell. Ah, his descendants—generation on generation of unstained virtue. The throne tasted their fragrance; scholars took their measure as model. Guobao was obtuse and nursed ambition through arrogance and waste. He fattened his roof-beams, then sealed his house in darkness. Xun and Fan wore fair renown; their bronze voices carried far. Liu and Han were peerless scholars; pearl-bright talk rose between them. Different gifts shared one brilliance—lush forever on the green chronicles.