Qin and Han · General

Wang Yi 王邑

Attested AD 9 - AD 25

Passages: 7
Chapters: 5
Histories: 2

Overview

Wang Yi was a general.

Life and dates

Attested activity

AD 18 天鳳五年…王邑
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 99, passages 211-212
AD 25 建武元年
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 108, passages 7, 13
AD 23 漢兵至宛
Dated from the passage context · Book of Later Han 24, passage 6
AD 9 to AD 23 王莽大司空
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 94, passage 43
AD 9 王莽篡位后
Dated from the passage context · Book of Han 104, passages 152-153

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Child of Wang Shang (王商)
son 子
Directly stated · Book of Han 104, passage 153

Key source chapters

Career and standing

Grand Minister of Works 大司空
Held
Directly stated · Book of Han 99, passage 212; Book of Han 104, passage 153; Book of Later Han 94, passage 43

Places and affiliations

Polity Xin 新 · Relation Served
Directly stated · Book of Han 104, passage 153

Works and attributed material

Speech · Speaker · Direct quotation
Directly stated · Book of Han 104, passage 154

Events and relationships

Defeated
AD 23 漢兵至宛 · Military · Defeated party
Directly stated · Book of Later Han 24, passage 6
Relation Treated as father · Person Lou Hu (樓護)
Directly stated · Book of Han 104, passage 153

Source notes

Historicity historical
Directly stated · Book of Han 104, passage 153; Book of Later Han 24, passage 6

References in the histories

Book of Han, Chapter 99Volume 87b: Yang Xiong 2 · 1 passage

時，大司空王邑、納言嚴尤聞雄死，謂桓譚曰：「子常稱揚雄書，豈能傳於後世乎？」 When Grand Minister of Works Wang Yi and Yan You heard of his death, they asked Huan Tan, "You always praised Yang Xiong. Will his books survive?"

Book of Han, Chapter 104Volume 92: Youxias · 3 passages

而成都侯商子邑為大司空，貴重，商故人皆敬事邑，唯護自安如舊節，邑亦父事之，不敢有闕。 Wang Yi, Wang Shang's son, became Grand Minister of Works; every old friend flattered him—except Lou Hu, who kept the easy equality of earlier days, so Yi treated him like a father and never slipped in courtesy.

時請召賓客，邑居樽下，稱「賤子上壽」。 At feasts Wang Yi took the seat below the wine jar and toasted him as "your humble son."

坐者百數，皆離席伏，護獨東鄉正坐，字謂邑曰：「公子貴如何！」 A hundred guests dropped to the kowtow while Lou Hu alone sat facing east and drawled, "Well, Yi—how does it feel to be the great man?"

Book of Later Han, Chapter 24Volume 21: Biographies of Ren, Li, Wan, Pi, Liu, Geng · 1 passage

光因率黨與從賜，為安集掾，拜偏將軍，與世祖破王尋、王邑。 Ren Guang then brought his followers to Liu Ci's service as an adjutant for pacification, was commissioned lieutenant general, and fought beside Emperor Guangwu to defeat Wang Xun and Wang Yi.

Book of Later Han, Chapter 94Volume 83: Biographies of Hermits · 1 passage

王莽大司空王邑辟之，连年乃至，欲荐之于莽，固辞乃止。 Wang Mang's grand minister Wang Yi summoned him; he dragged his feet for years, and when Yi tried to push him at court he refused point-blank.

Book of Later Han, Chapter 108Volume 97: Rituals and Worship Part One · 1 passage

咸曰王莽篡弑竊位，秀發憤興義兵，破王邑百萬眾於昆陽，誅王郎、銅馬、赤眉、青犢賊，平定天下，海内蒙恩，上當天心，下爲元元所歸。 They declared that Wang Mang had seized the throne by murder and usurpation; that Xiu, roused to action, had raised a loyal army, shattered Wang Yi’s host of a million at Kunyang, put down Wang Lang and the Bronze Horse, Red Eyebrows, and Green Calf rebels, restored peace to the realm, and won the gratitude of every shore—that Heaven above approved him and the people below rallied to him.