Wang Shimao (王世懋, 1536–1588) was a Ming-dynasty writer and official. His courtesy name was Jingmei, and his art name was Linzhou; he was also known as Linzhou (麟州), Sunzhai (損齋), and Qiangdongsheng (牆東生), and was second in birth order. His recorded native places are Taicang Prefecture (now Taicang, Jiangsu) and Kunshan.
Life
His father was Wang Yu (王忬), his mother Yu (郁氏), his grandfather Wang Zhuo (王倬), and his great-grandfather Wang Lu (王輅). His elder brother Wang Shizhen (1526–1590) was a historian and Nanjing Minister of Justice; he also had brothers Wang Shifang, Wang Shide, Wang Shiye, Wang Shiwen, and Wang Shiwang. His wife was Zhang (章氏), and his son was Wang Shilu (王士騄).
In Jiajing 37 (1558), he placed 43rd in the Wuwu Shuntian prefectural examination; a rank of 74 is also associated with the title xianggong juren. In Jiajing 38 (1559), he passed the Jiwei examination as a third-class jinshi, with the jinshi listing placing him 147th in the third class.
In Jiajing 38 (1559), his father Wang Yu was unjustly put to death in a case involving Yan Song, and the two brothers returned home to observe mourning. In the first year of the Longqing reign (1567), the brothers went to Beijing to seek redress, and their father’s case was rehabilitated. After the mourning period, Wang Shimao was appointed to the Nanjing Office of Ceremonial in the Ministry of Rites, also described more generally as a Ministry of Rites post. He then served as a Jiangxi canyi and as an educational vice commissioner in Shaanxi and Fujian; he was a vice director in the Office of Seals in Longqing 3, a canzheng at the Fujian Provincial Administration Commission in Wanli 13, and was promoted to Vice Minister of the Nanjing Court of Sacrificial Rites in Wanli 14. He died of illness in the sixteenth year of the Wanli reign (1588).
Literary work and associations
Wang Shimao was learned and accomplished in poetry and prose, and his literary reputation was considered second only to his brother’s. He was known as “Xiaomei” (小美), while Li Panlong and Wang Daokun’s circle called him “Shaomei” (少美). One assessment described him as capable of avoiding partisan polemic.
His books had prefaces by Wu Guolun, Li Weizhen, and Chen Wenzhu; Wang Xijue wrote his epitaph, and Wu Qiao was recorded as admiring and valuing him.
Works
His works include 《王奉常集》 (69 juan), 《藝圃擷餘》, 《窺天外乘》, 《閩部疏》, 《三郡圖說》, 《經子臆解》, 《學圃雜疏》, 《瓜蔬疏》, 《學圃雜疏（花疏）》, 《澹思子》, 《望崖錄》, and 《二酉委譚》. The catalogued forms also give 《學圃雜疏一卷》, 《瓜蔬疏》, 《學圃雜疏（花疏）一卷》, 《澹思子一卷》, 《望崖錄內編一卷 外編一卷》, and 《二酉委譚一卷》.
References
- CBDB Wang Shimao (34719)
- 搜韵 王世懋 (51233)
- Wikidata Wang Shimao (Q16260750)