Qin and Han · Official

Xiao Wangzhi 蕭望之

Died BC 47

Passages: 99
Chapters: 10
Histories: 3

Overview

The translated histories identify Xiao Wangzhi as a general, official, scholar, and statesman. This record brings together 99 passages from 10 chapters across 3 histories, with names, dates, relationships, offices, and events preserved as source-backed claims.

Names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Personal	Xiao Wangzhi	蕭望之	Xiao Wangzhi
Title	Censor-in-chief Xiao Wangzhi	御史大夫蕭望之
Courtesy	Changqian	長倩	Changqian
Title	Former General	前將軍
Title	Former General	前將軍	Qian Jiangjun
Title	grand tutor	蕭太傅
Personal	Wangzhi	望之	Wangzhi
Given	Wangzhi	望之	Wangzhi
Given name	Wangzhi	望之
Surname	Xiao	蕭	Xiao
Personal name	Xiao Wangzhi	蕭望之	Xiao Wangzhi
Personal	Xiao Wangzhi	蕭望之	Xiāo Wàngzhī
Personal name	Xiao Wangzhi	蕭望	Xiao Wang
Given		望之	Wangzhi
Surname		蕭	Xiao

Identity

Historicity: Historical
Identification: Named
Sex: Male

Sex: male
Explicit · beishi:088:s0142, hanshu:010:s0069, hanshu:068:s0260, hanshu:082:s0120, hanshu:105:s0226
Sex: male
Strongly inferred · hanshu:026:s0273, hanshu:089:s0002, hanshu:089:s0196, hanshu:090:s0003, suishu:077:s0112
Value: male
Strongly inferred · hanshu:105:s0081

Roles

General
Official
Scholar
Statesman
Teacher

Life and dates

Death

Manner: suicide · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 初元二年十二月 · Western Year: BC 47 · Cause: slander by Hong Gong and Shi Xian
Explicit · hanshu:010:s0071
destroyed by favored palace eunuchs / 卒為便嬖宦豎所圖
Explicit · hanshu:089:s0197
Text: committed suicide after Shi Xian harmed him
Explicit · hanshu:105:s0086
竟飲鴆自殺
Explicit · hanshu:089:s0163

Age

年逾六十矣
Explicit · hanshu:089:s0161

Attested activity

Source Date: Text: 五鳳中 · Western Interval: Start: BC 57 · End: BC 54
Explicit event contextual date · hanshu:026:s0269, hanshu:026:s0273
Source Date: Text: 初元中 · Western Year: BC 47
Explicit · hanshu:082:s0120, hanshu:082:s0145
Source Date: Text: 初元二年冬 · Western Year: BC 47
Explicit · hanshu:010:s0068, hanshu:010:s0069
Source Date: Text: 初元二年十二月 · Western Year: BC 47
Explicit · hanshu:010:s0071
Source Date: Text: 孝宣承統 · Western Interval: Start: BC 74 · End: BC 48
Explicit · hanshu:068:s0260
Source Date: Text: 宣帝 · Western Interval: Start: BC 74 · End: BC 49
Explicit event contextual date · hanshu:090:s0034, hanshu:090:s0027
Source Date: Text: 蕭望 · Western Year: BC 75
Explicit · beishi:088:s0142
Source Date: Text: 豫章王書 / 賾答書 · Western Interval: Start: AD 581 · End: AD 604
Explicit event contextual date · suishu:077:s0128

Career and standing

Label: Censor-in-chief / 御史大夫 · Action: held
Explicit · hanshu:026:s0273
Label: Former General / 前將軍 · Action: held
Explicit · hanshu:010:s0069
Label: junior privy treasurer / 少府 · Action: held
Explicit · hanshu:090:s0034
Office: General of the Front / 前將軍 · Action: held
Explicit · hanshu:082:s0120
Former General / 前將軍
Explicit · hanshu:094:s0171
general and minister posts / 將相
Explicit · hanshu:089:s0196
前將軍
Explicit · hanshu:105:s0226
Title: former general and head of secretariat affairs
Explicit · hanshu:105:s0081
Title: forward general and superintendent of the household / 前將軍光祿勳
Explicit · hanshu:089:s0214
Title: gentleman / gate warden / 郎／小苑東門候
Explicit · hanshu:089:s0015
Title: governor of Pingyuan / 平原太守
Explicit · hanshu:089:s0020
Title: grand tutor to the heir apparent / 太子太傅
Explicit · hanshu:089:s0110
Title: imperial counselor / 御史大夫
Explicit · hanshu:089:s0085
Title: Guannei Marquis / 關內侯 · Action: enfeoffed · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 初元二年冬 · Western Year: BC 47
Explicit · hanshu:010:s0070
Title: marquis within the passes / 關內侯
Explicit · hanshu:089:s0149

Places and affiliations

Label: Western Han / 漢 · Relation: served
Explicit · hanshu:068:s0260
Polity: Han · Relation: official-of
Explicit · hanshu:082:s0120
Polity: Western Han · Relation: served
Explicit · hanshu:026:s0273
Place: Duling / 杜陵
Explicit · hanshu:089:s0002
Place: Lanling in Donghai / 東海蘭陵
Explicit · hanshu:089:s0002

Works and attributed material

Kind: memorial · Role: author · About Person Id: Feng Fengshi (馮奉世)
Explicit · hanshu:090:s0034, hanshu:090:s0035, hanshu:090:s0036
Kind: memorial · Role: author · Other Person Id: Emperor Xuan (宣帝)
Explicit · hanshu:026:s0273, hanshu:026:s0274, hanshu:026:s0275, hanshu:026:s0276, hanshu:026:s0277

Events and relationships

Kind: political · Role: opponent · Action: opposed-plan · Other Person Id: Geng Shouchang (耿壽昌)
Explicit · hanshu:026:s0276, hanshu:026:s0277
Kind: political · Role: victim · Action: slandered-to-suicide · Other Person Id: Hong Gong (弘恭) · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 初元二年十二月 · Western Year: BC 47
Explicit · hanshu:010:s0071
Type: son · Person Id: Xiao Xian (蕭咸)
Explicit · hanshu:105:s0226
Relation: teacher-of · Person Id: Ping Dang (平當)
Explicit · hanshu:082:s0145
Type: son · Person Id: Xiao Yu (蕭育)
Explicit · hanshu:094:s0171
Relation: teacher-of · Person Id: Emperor Yuan (孝元皇帝)
Explicit · hanshu:010:s0069
Type: teacher · Person Local Id: Xiahou Sheng (夏侯勝)
Explicit · hanshu:089:s0004
Type: teacher · Person Local Id: Bai Qi (白奇)
Explicit · hanshu:089:s0004
Type: teacher · Person Local Id: Hou Cang (後倉)
Explicit · hanshu:089:s0003

Assessments and attributes

Assessment: narrowly-calculative · About Person Id: Geng Shouchang (耿壽昌) · Provenance: Mode: named-person-judgment · Speaker Person Id: Xiao Wangzhi (蕭望之)
Explicit · hanshu:026:s0277
Assessment: advanced through Confucian learning (儒術) · Provenance: Mode: historian-judgment
Explicit · hanshu:068:s0260
Assessment: had achievements recounted in their age · Provenance: Mode: historian-judgment
Explicit · hanshu:068:s0260

References in the histories

Open any source group to read the Chinese and English passage in context.

History of the Northern Dynasties, Chapter 88Volume 88 Biographies 76: Recluses · 1 passage

漢則馬遷、蕭望，晉則裴楷、張華。 In Han there were Sima Qian and Xiao Wangzhi; in Jin there were Pei Kai and Zhang Hua.

Book of Han, Chapter 10Volume 9: Annals of Emperor Yuan · 2 passages

故前將軍望之傅朕八年，道以經書，厥功茂焉。 Therefore the former general Wangzhi tutored me for eight years, guided me with the classics and books—his merit flourished there.

十二月，中書令弘恭、石顯等譖望之，令自殺。 In the twelfth month, Palace Secretary Hong Gong, Shi Xian and others slandered Wangzhi, causing him to commit suicide.

Book of Han, Chapter 26Volume 24a: Treatise on Trade 1 · 1 passage

御史大夫蕭望之奏言：「故御史屬徐宮家在東萊，言往年加海租，魚不出。 Censor-in-chief Xiao Wangzhi memorialized: "The household of Xu Gong, formerly a subordinate in the Censorate, is in Donglai. They say that in earlier years, when the sea tax was increased, the fish stopped appearing.

Book of Han, Chapter 68Volume 58: Gongsun Hong, Bu Shi and Er Kuan · 1 passage

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

蕭望之為御史大夫，除廣德為屬，數與論議，器之，薦廣德經行宜充本朝。 When Xiao Wangzhi was commandant of the imperial counselors he took Guangde onto his staff, debated policy with him often, admired him, and recommended his learning and character as fit for high office at court.

文雅雖不能及蕭望之、匡衡，然指意略同。 His literary polish fell short of Xiao Wangzhi's or Kuang Heng's, but his aims ran along the same lines.

Book of Han, Chapter 89Volume 78: Xiao Wangzhi · 79 passages

卷七十八蕭望之傳第四十八 Volume 78: Biography of Xiao Wangzhi, the forty-eighth.

蕭望之字長倩，東海蘭陵人也，徙杜陵。 Xiao Wangzhi, whose courtesy name was Changqian, came from Lanling in Donghai and later relocated to Duling.

家世以田為業，至望之，好學，治《齊詩》，事同縣後倉且十年。 His people had long lived by the plough; Wangzhi himself loved letters, mastered the Qi recension of the Classic of Odes, and studied under Hou Cang of his county for the better part of a decade.

是時，大將軍霍光秉政，長史丙吉薦儒生王仲翁與望之等數人，皆召見。 While the great general Huo Guang governed, chief clerk Bing Ji nominated the scholar Wang Zhongweng along with Wangzhi and others; they were all called in.

望之獨不肯聽，自引出閣曰：「不願見。」 Wangzhi alone refused; he turned back toward the gate and said, "I will not go in to see him."

望之既至前，說光曰：「將軍以功德輔幼主，將以流大化，致於洽平，是以天下之士延頸企踵，爭願自效，以輔高明。 When Wangzhi at last stood before him, he said, "You support the boy emperor on strength of deed and reputation and mean to carry a great civilizing influence to perfect peace, so men of talent across the realm crane their necks and strain to serve your eminence.

於是光獨不除用望之，而仲翁等皆補大將軍史。 Huo Guang therefore passed Wangzhi over while Wang Zhongweng and the others became secretaries on his staff.

三歲間，仲翁至光祿大夫、給事中，望之以射策甲科為郎，署小苑東門候。 In three years Zhongweng rose to grand counselor of the palace and attendant at the inner gates; Wangzhi, having topped the graded policy exam, was made a gentleman and assigned to the eastern gatehouse of the Lesser Park.

仲翁出入從倉頭廬兒，下車趨門，傳呼甚寵，顧謂望之曰：「不肯錄錄，反抱關為？」 Zhongweng traveled with a train of grooms and runners, sprang from his carriage at the gate, and had heralds clear the way in style; glancing at Wangzhi he sneered, "So you would not bend the knee—and now you hug the gate?"

望之曰：「各從其志。」 Wangzhi replied, "Each man follows his own bent."

御史大夫魏相除望之為屬，察廉為大行治禮丞。 Imperial Counselor Wei Xiang took him on staff; rated incorrupt, he rose to assistant for ritual in the grand messenger's bureau.

地節三年夏，京師雨雹，望之因是上疏，願賜清閒之宴，口陳災異之意。 In summer of Dijie 3 hail fell on the capital; Wangzhi memorialized, asking for a quiet audience to explain the omen in person.

宣帝自在民間聞望之名，曰：「此東海蕭生邪？ Emperor Xuan had known Wangzhi's reputation since his commoner days and said, "Is this the scholar Xiao from Donghai?

望之對，以為「春秋昭公三年大雨雹，是時季氏專權，卒逐昭公。 Wangzhi answered that "in the third year of Duke Zhao of Lu, recorded in the Spring and Autumn Annals, great hail fell while the Ji clan monopolized power and finally drove the duke into exile.

對奏，天子拜望之為謁者。 When his answer was submitted, the emperor appointed Wangzhi usher.

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.

其後霍氏竟謀反誅，望之寖益任用。 After the Huo clan finally rebelled and was destroyed, Wangzhi was increasingly entrusted with power.

是時，選博士、諫大夫通政事者補郡國守、相，以望之為平原太守。 The court was filling governorships and kingdom chancellorships with erudites and remonstrance officials who knew practical administration; Wangzhi received Pingyuan.

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.

宣帝察望之經明持重，論議有餘，材任宰相，欲詳試其政事，復以為左馮翊。 Emperor Xuan saw in him classical learning, gravity, and debating power fit for the chancellorship and meant to test him in government, so he named him left governor of the metropolitan area.

望之從少府出為左遷，恐有不合意，即移病。 He read the move from privy treasurer to "left" as a demotion for having offended the throne and at once filed a sick note.

望之即視事。 Wangzhi then took his seat.

事下有司，望之與少府李強議，以為：「民函明陽之氣，有好義欲利之心，在教化之所助。 The case went to the ministries. Wangzhi and Privy Treasurer Li Qiang argued that "the people carry the bright force of yang; they incline to both duty and gain, according to what instruction gives them.

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.

望之為左馮翊三年，京師稱之，遷大鴻臚。 After three years as left governor he won the capital's praise and rose to grand herald.

詔下公卿議，望之以為：烏孫絕域，信其美言，萬里結婚，非長策也。 The edict went to council. Wangzhi said Wusun lay at impossible distance; a marriage alliance on mere fine words was no lasting policy.

詔下公卿議，望之復以為：「不可。 Council was ordered again. Wangzhi memorialized again, saying, "It cannot be done.

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□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, Marquis Zhang Yanshou of Fuping, Yang Yun, and Dai Changle to ask his counsel. Wangzhi answered: "The Annals fault Shi Hui for invading Qi with an army; when he learned the marquis had died, he withdrew. The noble man exalts refusing to strike a mourner—grace that wins filial sons and duty that sways the lords.

是時，大司農、中丞耿壽昌奏設常平倉，上善之，望之非壽昌。 When Grand Minister of Agriculture Geng Shouchang proposed ever-normal granaries, the emperor liked the idea; Wangzhi attacked it.

丞相丙吉年老，上重焉，望之又奏言：「百姓或乏困，盜賊未止，二千石多材下不任職。 The aged Chancellor Bing Ji still enjoyed imperial favor, yet Wangzhi reported: "The people still suffer; banditry continues; too many two-thousand-bushel officials are low in talent and unfit for office.

上以望之意輕丞相，乃下侍中建章衛尉金安上、光祿勳楊惲、御史中丞王忠，並詰問望之。 Reading this as a snub to the chancellor, the emperor set Jin An'shang, Yang Yun, and Palace Secretary Wang Zhong to question him jointly.

望之免冠置對，天子由是不說。 Wangzhi doffed his cap and replied; the sovereign took displeasure.

後丞相司直繁延壽奏：「侍中謁者良使承製詔望之，望之再拜已。 Later, Fan Yanshou, the Chancellor's Director of Scrutiny, memorialized, saying, "Liang, the Palace Attendant and Internuncio, went as envoy bearing the imperial edict to Wangzhi; Wangzhi merely bowed twice and stopped there.

良與望之言，望之不起，因故下手，而謂御史曰『良禮不備』。 but when Liang addressed him he remained seated and only then lowered his hands, telling the counselor that Liang's etiquette had been incomplete."

今丞相數病，望之不問病； The present chancellor had been sick repeatedly, and Wangzhi never asked after him;

時議事不合意，望之曰：『侯年寧能父我邪！』 When debate went against him he snapped, "Does the old marquis think his years make him my father?"

知御史有令不得擅使，望之多使守史自給車馬，之杜陵護視家事。 He knew the counselor was barred from private use of staff, yet he had supervising clerks pay for their own mounts and run errands to Duling for his household.

案望之大臣，通經術，居九卿之右，本朝所仰，至不奉法自修，踞慢不遜攘，受所監臧二百五十以上，請逮捕系治。」 He was a pillar of state, steeped in the classics and ranked above the nine ministers, yet he flouted the law, behaved with arrogant insubordination, and pocketed over 250 cash from subordinates—arrest and trial are in order."

上於是策望之曰：「有司奏君責使者禮，遇丞相亡禮，廉聲不聞，敖慢不遜，亡以扶政，帥先百僚。 The throne answered him: "Officials report that you slighted imperial envoys, insulted the chancellor, showed no reputation for integrity, and swaggered in a way no leader of the bureaucracy should.

望之既左遷，而黃霸代為御史大夫。 Wangzhi's demotion opened the path for Huang Ba as imperial counselor.

望之遂見廢，不得相。 Wangzhi had been passed over; the chancellorship never came to him.

望之以為：「單于非正朔所加，故稱敵國，宜待以不臣之禮，位在諸侯王上。 Wangzhi held, "The chanyu is not subject to our calendar and new moons; therefore he is called the ruler of a rival state. He should be received with the ritual due to one who is not a subject, and his seat should be above the kings of the domains.

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, summoned his maternal kinsman Palace Attendant Yueling Marquis Shi Gao, crown-prince tutor Wangzhi, and junior tutor Zhou Kan to the inner palace, made Gao grand marshal and general of chariots and cavalry, Wangzhi forward general and superintendent of the household, and Kan grand master of the household; all received the deathbed edict to assist government and headed Secretariat affairs.

望之、堪本以師傅見尊重，上即位，數宴見，言治亂，陳王事。 Wangzhi and Zhou Kan had long been honored as tutors; once Yuan took the throne he often received them at banquets to discuss order and disorder and royal policy.

望之選白宗室明經達學散騎諫大夫劉更生給事中，與侍中金敞並拾遺左右。 Wangzhi recommended Liu Gengsheng of the imperial clan, a classicist of proven learning, as cavalier attendant and remonstrance grandee in the palace secretariat, together with Palace Attendant Jin Chang to remedy oversights at the emperor's side.

中書令弘恭、石顯久典樞機，明習文法，亦與車騎將軍高為表裡，論議常獨持故事，不從望之等。 Hong Gong and Shi Xian had long run the machinery of state, knew every clause of the code, and moved in lockstep with General Shi Gao, stonewalling Wangzhi with citations of old precedent.

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 administrative heart and should be manned by scholars; since Emperor Wu's harem diversions, castrates had filled those desks—neither ancient practice nor wise policy—and he pressed to put gentlemen in their place, making bitter enemies of Gao, Gong, and Xian.

望之、堪數薦名儒茂才以備諫官。 Wangzhi and Zhou Kan kept nominating distinguished scholars for remonstrance duties.

會稽鄭朋陰欲附望之，上疏言車騎將軍高遣客為奸利郡國，及言許、史子弟罪過。 Zheng Peng of Kuaiji curried favor by memorializing against General Shi Gao's clients for corruption in the provinces and against the Xu and Shi clans.

朋奏記望之曰：「將軍體周、召之德，秉公綽之質，有卞莊之威。 Zheng Peng submitted a note to Wangzhi, saying, "General, you embody the virtue of the Dukes of Zhou and Shao, possess the character of Meng Gongchuo, and command the awe of Bian Zhuang.

望之見納朋，接待以意。 Wangzhi took the bait and treated Peng with cordial favor.

朋數稱述望之，短車騎將軍。 Peng kept praising Wangzhi and attacking General Shi Gao.

後朋行傾邪，望之絕不與通。 When Peng turned treacherous, Wangzhi cut him off entirely.

朋出揚言曰：「我見，言前將軍小過五，大罪一。 Peng came out and declared, "I told the emperor of five minor faults and one grave crime of the former general.

望之聞之，以問弘恭、石顯。 When Wangzhi heard this, he questioned Hong Gong and Shi Xian.

顯、恭恐望之自訟，下於它吏，即挾朋及待詔華龍。 Shi Xian and Hong Gong feared Wangzhi would defend himself in court, so they referred the case to other officials and at once enlisted Peng and attendant Hua Long.

恭、顯令二人告望之等謀欲罷車騎將軍疏退許、史狀，候望之出休日，令朋、龍上之。 Hong Gong and Shi Xian had the two accuse Wangzhi and his allies of plotting to remove General Shi Gao and of memorializing to oust the Xu and Shi clans; they waited for Wangzhi's day off and had Peng and Long submit the charge.

事下弘恭問狀，望之對曰：「外戚在位多奢淫，欲以匡正國家，非為邪也。」 The case went to Hong Gong for investigation. Wangzhi replied, "The consort clans in power are mostly extravagant; our aim was to correct the state, not to do wrong."

恭、顯奏「望之、堪、更生朋黨相稱舉，數譖訴大臣，毀離親戚，欲以專擅權勢，為臣不忠，誣上不道，請謁者召致廷尉。」 Hong Gong and Shi Xian memorialized that "Wangzhi, Zhou Kan, and Liu Gengsheng had formed a faction, repeatedly slandered great ministers, divided kinsmen, and sought to monopolize power; as disloyal ministers guilty of impiety toward the throne, they asked that an usher deliver them to the commandant of justice."

於是制詔丞相御史：「前將軍望之傅朕八年，亡它罪過，今事久遠，識忘難明。 An edict then went to the chancellor and imperial counselor: "Former general Wangzhi instructed Us for eight years without other fault; the affair is long past and hard to clarify.

其赦望之罪，收前將軍光祿勳印綬，及堪、更生皆免為庶人。」 Pardon Wangzhi, take back his seals as former general and superintendent of the household, and dismiss Zhou Kan and Liu Gengsheng to commoner status."

故前將軍望之傅朕八年，道以經術，厥功茂焉。 The former general Wangzhi instructed Us in the classics for eight years with conspicuous merit.

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，會望之子散騎中郎人及上書訟望之前事，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。」 He awarded Wangzhi marquis-within-the-passes rank, six hundred households, palace attendant status, audiences on the new and full moons, and a seat just below the generals." The emperor had meant to raise him to chancellor, but his son Ren, a gentleman rider, petitioned to reopen an old case; the ministries replied that the earlier verdict was sound, that no one had slandered him, yet teaching a son to quote the Odes on innocence was unworthy of a great minister—disrespect—and asked for his arrest.

弘恭、石顯等知望之素高節，不詘辱，建白：「望之前為將軍輔政，欲排退許、史，專權擅朝。 Hong Gong, Shi Xian, and the others knew that Wangzhi had always maintained lofty integrity and would not bend under humiliation, so they reported, "When Wangzhi formerly assisted the government as general, he wanted to push aside the Xu and Shi families and monopolize power at court.

非頗詘望之於牢獄，塞其怏怏心，則聖朝亡以施恩厚。」 Only by humbling him behind bars could the court stifle his sulk and still show mercy."

上曰：「蕭太傅素剛，安肯就吏？」 The emperor protested, "The grand tutor is proud—he will never submit to petty clerks."

顯等曰：「人命至重，望之所坐，語言薄罪，必亡所憂。」 Shi Xian and the others said, "Human life is weightiest; the charge against Wangzhi is a light offense of words—he is sure to have nothing to fear."

顯等封以付謁者，敕令召望之手付，因令太常急發執金吾車騎馳圍其第。 They sealed the order, told the usher to hand it to Wangzhi in person, and had the Grand Master of Ceremonies rouse the metropolitan commandant to surround his house with horse and chariot.

使者至，召望之。 The messenger came and summoned him.

望之欲自殺，其夫人止之，以為非天子意。 Wangzhi reached for poison; his wife restrained him, sure the emperor could not mean it.

望之以問門下生朱雲。 He turned to his disciple Zhu Yun for counsel.

雲者好節士，勸望之自裁。 Yun, a man who honored uncompromising heroes, urged suicide.

於是望之仰天歎曰：「吾嘗備位將相，年逾六十矣，老入牢獄，苟求生活，不亦鄙乎！」 Wangzhi looked skyward and cried, "I have worn general's and minister's ribbons; I am past sixty—would I crawl through a jail for a few more breaths?"

望之有罪死，有司請絕其爵邑。 Because he had died a condemned man, the ministries asked to revoke his title and fief.

天子追念望之，不忘每歲時遣使者祠祭望之塚，終元帝世。 For the rest of Emperor Yuan's reign the court sent offerings to his tomb every season.

望之八子，至大官者育、咸、由。 Of his eight sons, Yu, Xian, and You rose highest.

往者有王陽、貢公，故長安語曰「蕭、朱結綬，王、貢彈冠」，言其相薦達也。 Hence the old capital rhyme: "When Xiao and Zhu don seals, Wang and Gong dust off their caps"—meaning mutual promotion.

贊曰：蕭望之歷位將相，籍師傅之恩，可謂親暱亡間。 The historian remarks: Wangzhi climbed to general and minister on the strength of the tutor's bond—close as family, it seemed.

不然，望之堂堂，折而不橈，身為儒宗，有輔佐之能，近古社稷臣也。 Had things turned out otherwise, the imposing Wangzhi—broken but never bent, a master of the Confucian tradition with the ability to aid a ruler—would have ranked among the great ministers of the state in recent antiquity.

Book of Han, Chapter 90Volume 79: Feng Fengshi · 3 passages

少府蕭望之獨以奉世奉使有指，而擅矯制違命，發諸國兵，雖有功效，不可以為後法。 Xiao Wangzhi alone argued that Fengshi had carried fixed orders yet counterfeited an imperial rescript and mobilized foreign troops without warrant—precedent-making even if successful.

上善望之議，以奉世為光祿大夫、水衡都尉。 The emperor took Wangzhi's side, naming Fengshi grand counselor of the palace and superintendent of the palace parks instead.

時，丞相匡衡亦用延壽矯制生事，據蕭望之前議，以為不當封，而議者咸美其功，上從眾而侯之。 Chancellor Kuang Heng echoed Wangzhi's old line that Yanshou had overstepped, yet public praise swayed the throne and Yanshou was ennobled.

Book of Han, Chapter 94Volume 83: Xue Xuan and Zhu Bo · 1 passage

是時，前將軍望之子蕭育，御史大夫萬年子陳咸以公卿子著材知名，博皆友之矣。 In those days Xiao Yu, son of Former General Xiao Wangzhi, and Chen Xian, son of Imperial Secretary Chen Wannian, were celebrated heirs of the elite, and Zhu Bo numbered among their companions.

Book of Han, Chapter 105Volume 93: Flatterers · 8 passages

初元中，前將軍蕭望之及光祿大夫周堪、宗正劉更生皆給事中。 During Chuyuan, Xiao Wangzhi, Zhou Kan, and Liu Gengsheng held joint appointments as palace attendants.

望之領尚書事，知顯專權邪辟，建白以為：「尚書百官之本，國家樞機，宜以通明公正處之。 Xiao Wangzhi, heading the secretariat, saw Shi Xian's crooked monopoly and argued: "That office is the nerve center of government; it needs open, upright men.

元帝不聽，由是大與顯忤。 Yuan refused, and Xiao Wangzhi made a bitter enemy of Shi Xian.

後皆害焉，望之自殺，堪、更生廢錮，不得復進用，語在《望之傳》。 All were ruined: Xiao Wangzhi committed suicide; Zhou Kan and Liu Gengsheng were cashiered and blocked from office—the full story is in Wangzhi's biography.

初，顯聞眾人匈匈，言己殺前將軍蕭望之。 Earlier, word on the street blamed Shi Xian for Xiao Wangzhi's death.

望之當世名儒，顯恐天下學士姍己，病之。 Wangzhi had been the age's leading classicist; Shi Xian worried the literati would turn every pen against him.

議者於是稱顯，以為不妒譖望之矣。 Gossip then called Shi Xian magnanimous, as if he had never plotted against Wangzhi.

上以王氏亡在位者，遂用舊恩親近去疾，復進其弟閎為中常侍，閎妻父蕭咸，前將軍望之子也，久為郡守，病免，為中郎將。 Seeing no Wang in power, Ai favored Quji out of old affection and promoted his brother Wang Hong to regular palace attendant; Hong's father-in-law Xiao Xian—Xiao Wangzhi's son—had been a long-serving governor, left office for illness, and now served as general of the household.

Book of Sui, Chapter 77Volume 77 Biographies 42: Recluses · 1 passage

漢則馬遷、蕭望，晉則裴楷、張華，雞樹騰聲，鵷池播美，望我清塵，悠然路絕。 Han had Sima Qian and Xiao Wangzhi; Jin had Pei Kai and Zhang Hua—your fame resounds like the rooster tree and spreads like the egret pool; looking toward my humble trail, the road between us is impossibly far.