Three Kingdoms and Six Dynasties · Statesman and Official

Wang Dao 王導

Attested AD 317 - AD 339

Passages: 4
Chapters: 1
Histories: 1

Overview

Wang Dao was a statesman and Official.

Life and dates

Attested activity

AD 317 to AD 339 司徒導
Dated from the passage context · Book of Jin 80, passages 2, 14
AD 317 to AD 339 王丞相時
Dated from the passage context · Book of Jin 80, passage 29

Family

Kin of Wang Xizhi (王羲之)
nephew 從子 · paternal line
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passages 2, 10

Career and standing

Chancellor 丞相
Held
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 29
Minister of Education 司徒
Held
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 2

Places and affiliations

Polity Id eastern-jin · Relation Served
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passages 2, 14

Events and relationships

Tried to bring into administration
Recruitment · Would be patron · With Wang Xizhi (王羲之) · Mode speech Speaker Wang Xizhi (王羲之)
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 29
Marriage alliance · Showed kinsmen · With Xi Jian (郗鑒)
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 14
Relation Esteemed · Person Wang Xizhi (王羲之)
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 10

Assessments and attributes

Item handwritten letter 手跡 · Relation Authored
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 29

Source notes

Historicity historical
Directly stated · Book of Jin 80, passage 2

References in the histories

Book of Jin, Chapter 80Volume 80 Biographies 50: Wang Xizhi · 4 passages

王羲之，字逸少，司徒導之從子也。 Wang Xizhi, whose courtesy name was Yishao, was a nephew of Wang Dao, the Minister of Education.

深為從伯敦、導所器重。 His uncles Wang Dun and Wang Dao thought the world of him.

時太尉郗鑒使門生求女婿于導，導令就東廂遍觀子弟。 Grand Commandant Xi Jian dispatched a disciple to ask Wang Dao for a son-in-law, and Wang Dao had the man go to the eastern wing and look over every young kinsman present.

羲之遂報書曰：「吾素自無廊廟志，直王丞相時果欲內吾，誓不許之，手跡猶存，由來尚矣，不於足下參政而方進退。 Wang Xizhi answered: "I have never aspired to high ministerial rank. When Chancellor Wang once tried to bring me into the administration, I swore I would not go—the letter he wrote me is still in my keeping, and my resolve has been clear for years. I am not only now, as you take power, deciding whether to step forward or back.