Qin and Han · Western Han scholar, statesman, and imperial tutor

Xiao Wangzhi 蕭望之

First attested BC 75; died BC 47

Passages
101
Chapters
11
Histories
4

Overview

Xiao Wangzhi was a Western Han scholar, statesman, and imperial tutor.

IdentityHistorical · Male

Other names

TypeEnglishChinesePinyin
Courtesy name Changqian 長倩 Changqian

Life and dates

Death

Age

Attested activity

Show 3 more source-backed claims

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Key source chapters

  1. Book of Han, Chapter 89 Volume 78: Xiao Wangzhi 80 passages
  2. Book of Han, Chapter 105 Volume 93: Flatterers 8 passages
  3. Book of Han, Chapter 90 Volume 79: Feng Fengshi 3 passages
  4. Book of Han, Chapter 10 Volume 9: Annals of Emperor Yuan 2 passages
  5. Book of Han, Chapter 82 Volume 71: Jun, Shu, Yu, Xue, Ping and Peng 2 passages

Career and standing

Show 24 more source-backed claims

Places and affiliations

Learning and skills

Show 1 more source-backed claim

Works and attributed material

Show 5 more source-backed claims

Events and relationships

Show 12 more source-backed claims

Assessments and attributes

References in the histories

101 passages

History of the Northern Dynasties, Chapter 88Volume 88 Biographies 76: Recluses · 1 passage
Open chapter
Book of Han, Chapter 10Volume 9: Annals of Emperor Yuan · 2 passages
Open chapter
Book of Han, Chapter 26Volume 24a: Treatise on Trade 1 · 1 passage
Open chapter
Book of Han, Chapter 68Volume 58: Gongsun Hong, Bu Shi and Er Kuan · 1 passage
Open chapter
孝宣承統，纂修洪業，亦講論六藝，招選茂異，而蕭望之、梁丘賀、夏侯勝、韋玄成、嚴彭祖，尹更始以儒術進，劉向，王褒以文章顯，將相則張安世、趙充國、魏相、丙吉、於定國、杜延年，治民則黃霸、王成、龔遂、鄭弘、召信臣、韓延壽、尹翁歸、趙廣漢、嚴延年、張敞之屬，皆有功跡見述於世。 Emperor Xuan inherited the succession and carried forward the great enterprise. He too expounded the Six Arts and recruited outstanding men. Xiao Wangzhi, Liangqiu He, Xiahou Sheng, Wei Xuancheng, Yan Pengzu, and Yin Gengshi advanced through Confucian learning; Liu Xiang and Wang Bao gained distinction for their writing; among the generals and chancellors were Zhang Anshi, Zhao Chongguo, Wei Xiang, Bing Ji, Yu Dingguo, and Du Yannian; and among those who governed the people were Huang Ba, Wang Cheng, Gong Sui, Zheng Hong, Shao Xinchen, Han Yanshou, Yin Wengui, Zhao Guanghan, Yan Yannian, Zhang Chang, and others. All left achievements celebrated in their age.
Book of Han, Chapter 82Volume 71: Jun, Shu, Yu, Xue, Ping and Peng · 2 passages
Open chapter
Book of Han, Chapter 89Volume 78: Xiao Wangzhi · 80 passages
Open chapter
時上初即位，思進賢良，多上書言便宜，輒下望之問狀，高者請丞相御史，次者中二千石試事，滿歲以狀聞，下者報聞，或罷歸田里，所白處奏皆可。 The newly enthroned emperor wished to advance worthy men; many memorials on practical reforms were sent to Wangzhi for review—the best he referred to the chancellor and counselor, the next he tried in middle two-thousand-shi posts and reported after a year, the least he acknowledged or sent home; his recommendations were invariably approved.
望之雅意在本朝，遠為郡守，內不自得，乃上疏曰：「陛下哀愍百姓，恐德化之不究，悉出諫官以補郡吏，所謂憂其末而忘其本者也。 Wangzhi had hoped to remain in the capital; distant appointment as governor sat ill with him. He memorialized: "You pity the people and fear your transforming influence may not reach the ends of the realm, so you have posted every remonstrance officer to the provinces—that is to fret over the branches and forget the root.
望之、強復對曰：「先帝聖德，賢良在位，作憲垂法，為無窮之規，永惟邊竟之不贍，故《金布令甲》曰『邊郡數被兵，離饑寒，夭絕天年，父子相失，令天下共給其費』，固為軍旅卒暴之事也。 Wangzhi and Li Qiang answered again: "The late emperor's sage example and good men in office wrote laws for the ages, mindful that the frontier could not sustain itself—hence the Metal-Cloth Ordinance, Class A: 'Border counties often see war, hunger, and early death, families torn—let the whole realm share the cost'—meant for sudden military need.
詔遣中朝大司馬車騎將軍韓增、諸吏富平侯張延壽、光祿勳楊惲、太僕戴長樂問望之計策，望之對曰：「《春秋》惡士匄帥師侵齊，聞齊侯卒，引師而還，君子大其不伐喪，以為恩足以服孝子，誼足以動諸侯。 The court sent Grand Marshal Han Zeng, Zhang Yanshou, Marquis of Fuping, Yang Yun, and Dai Changle to ask his counsel. Wangzhi answered: "The Annals censures Shi Gai for leading an army against Qi. When he learned that the Marquis of Qi had died, he withdrew. Yet the noble man praises his refusal to attack a state in mourning: kindness enough to win over filial sons, righteousness enough to move the lords.
及宣帝寢疾，選大臣可屬者，引外屬侍中樂陵侯史高、太子太傅望之、少傅周堪至禁中，拜高為大司馬車騎將軍，望之為前將軍光祿勳，堪為光祿大夫，皆受遺詔輔政，領尚書事。 When Emperor Xuan fell gravely ill, he chose ministers to whom he could entrust the realm. He summoned his maternal kinsman Shi Gao, Palace Attendant and Marquis of Leling, together with Crown Prince Tutor Wangzhi and Junior Tutor Zhou Kan. Shi Gao was made Grand Marshal and Chariot-and-Cavalry General, Wangzhi Forward General and Minister of the Household, and Zhou Kan Grandee of Splendid Light. All three received the deathbed edict to assist the government and direct the Secretariat.
望之以為中書政本，宜以賢明之選，自武帝游宴後庭，故用宦者，非國舊制，又違古不近刑人之義，白欲更置士人，由是大與高、恭、顯忤。 Wangzhi argued that the secretariat was the heart of government and should be staffed by worthy, capable men. Eunuchs had been employed there since Emperor Wu began visiting and holding banquets in the rear palace, but this was neither an original Han institution nor consistent with the ancient principle of keeping punished men at a distance. He proposed replacing them with regular officials, bringing him into sharp conflict with Shi Gao, Hong Gong, and Shi Xian.
其賜望之爵關內侯，食邑六百戶，給事中，朝朔望，坐次將軍」天子方倚欲以為丞相，會望之子散騎中郎伋上書訟望之前事，事下有司，復奏：「望之前所坐明白，無譖訴者，而教子上書，稱引亡辜之《詩》，失大臣體，不敬，請逮捕。」 Let Wangzhi be granted the rank of Marquis within the Passes, an estate of six hundred households, the status of Palace Attendant, audiences at the new and full moons, and a seat immediately below the generals." The emperor was then relying on Wangzhi and intended to make him chancellor. Just then Wangzhi's son Ji, a Gentleman of the Cavalry, petitioned to reopen his father's former case. The responsible offices replied that the earlier charges were clear and no one had slandered him; by instructing his son to submit a memorial and quote an Ode proclaiming innocence, Wangzhi had violated the bearing of a great minister and shown disrespect. They requested his arrest.
Book of Han, Chapter 90Volume 79: Feng Fengshi · 3 passages
Open chapter
Book of Han, Chapter 94Volume 83: Xue Xuan and Zhu Bo · 1 passage
Open chapter
Book of Han, Chapter 105Volume 93: Flatterers · 8 passages
Open chapter
Book of Later Han, Chapter 76Volume 69: Biographies of Dou, He · 1 passage
Open chapter
Book of Sui, Chapter 77Volume 77 Biographies 42: Recluses · 1 passage
Open chapter