Three Kingdoms and Six Dynasties · Official and Calligrapher

Wang Meng 王濛

Attested AD 317 - AD 371

Passages: 13
Chapters: 1
Histories: 1

Overview

Wang Meng was an official and Calligrapher.

Other names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Courtesy name	Zhongzu	仲祖

Life and dates

Death

Age 39
Directly stated · Book of Jin 93, passage 213

Attested activity

AD 317 to AD 339 司徒王導辟為掾
Dated from the passage context · Book of Jin 93, passage 196
AD 326 to AD 371 年三十九卒
Dated from the passage context · Book of Jin 93, passage 213
AD 326 to AD 371 簡文帝之為會稽王也
Dated from the passage context · Book of Jin 93, passage 205

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Descendant of Wang You (佑)
grandfather 祖 · paternal line · 2 generations
Directly stated · Book of Jin 93, passage 187
Descendant of Wang An (黯)
great-grandfather 曾祖 · paternal line · 3 generations
Directly stated · Book of Jin 93, passage 186
Child of Wang Ne (訥)
father 父 · paternal line
Directly stated · Book of Jin 93, passage 188
Parent of Empress Aijing (哀靖皇后)
father 父
Directly stated · Book of Jin 93, passage 185
Parent of Wang Xiu (修)
son 子 · paternal line
Directly stated · Book of Jin 93, passage 216
Parent of Wang Yun (蘊)
son 子 · paternal line
Directly stated · Book of Jin 93, passage 216

Kinship Role sons · Count 2
Directly stated · Book of Jin 93, passage 216
Kinship Role stepmothers · Quantity unspecified
Directly stated · Book of Jin 93, passage 190

References in the histories

Search passages

History

13 passages

Book of Jin, Chapter 93Volume 93 Biographies 63: Imperial Affines · 13 passages

王濛，字仲祖，哀靖皇后父也。 Wang Meng, courtesy name Zhongzu, was the father of Empress Aijing.

濛少時放縱不羈，不為鄉曲所齒，晚節始克己勵行，有風流美譽，虛己應物，恕而後行，莫不敬愛焉。 In youth Wang Meng was a wild rake whom neighbors scorned; in maturity he disciplined himself, won a name for grace and charm, met the world with humility, and acted only after forgiving others—everyone then esteemed him.

與沛國劉惔齊名友善，惔常稱濛性至通，而自然有節，濛每云：「劉君知我，勝我自知。」 He and Liu Tan of Pei were close and equally celebrated. Liu Tan said Wang Meng combined perfect ease with natural restraint; Wang Meng said, ‘Liu understands me better than I do myself.’

時人以惔方荀奉倩，濛比袁曜卿，凡稱風流者，舉濛、惔為宗焉。 Critics likened Liu Tan to Xun Can and Wang Meng to Yuan Yao; anyone discussing ‘refined spirit’ took the pair as the standard.

導復引匡術弟孝，濛致箋於導曰：「開國承家，小人勿用。 When Wang Dao also employed Xiao, brother of Kuang Shu, Wang Meng wrote, ‘The Book of Changes warns: when founding a dynasty and family, do not employ petty men.’

濛以此職有譴則應受杖，固辭。 Wang Meng refused the post because its holders could be flogged for mistakes.

簡文帝之為會稽王也，嘗與孫綽商略諸風流人，綽言曰：「劉惔清蔚簡令，王濛溫潤恬和，桓溫高爽邁出。 While still Prince of Kuaiji, Emperor Jianwen once asked Sun Chuo to rank the leading gentlemen. Sun Chuo said, ‘Liu Tan is spare and luminous; Wang Meng is gentle and serene; Huan Wen is bold and towering.’

謝尚清易令達，而濛性和暢，能言理，辭簡而有會。」 Xie Shang is lucid and open; Wang Meng’s temper is even, he reasons well, and his words are brief but hit the mark.’

及簡文帝輔政，益貴幸之，與劉惔號為入室之賓。 When the prince became regent, Wang Meng grew ever closer to him; he and Liu Tan were called intimates who might enter the inner rooms.

及濛病，乃恨不用之。 Only when Wang Meng fell ill did the prince regret not granting his request.

濛聞之曰：「人言會稽王癡，竟癡也！」 Wang Meng heard and said, ‘They call the Prince of Kuaiji slow-witted—they are right!’

謝安亦常稱濛云：「王長史語甚不多，可謂有令音。」 Xie An used to say of him, ‘Chief Clerk Wang spoke little, but every word rang true.’

濛以示劉惔曰：「敬仁此論，便足以參微言。」 Wang Meng showed it to Liu Tan and said, ‘Jingren’s essay already touches the subtlest teachings.’