Wang Zeng

Life

His father was Wang Jianhuang. He was orphaned young; Wang Zongyuan is identified as an agnatic uncle, while Wang Zhongyuan is said to have raised him during that period. His brothers included Wang Hao (皞) and Wang Hao (皡). His wife was a Li, and Li Hang is named as the father of both his first and second wives. His children included Wang Shao and Wang Zai; Wang Yi is listed both as a nephew and as an adopted heir. Other family relationships include the son-in-law Shen Weiweng, Ren Gongzhi as a niece's husband, Zhu Yanshi as a maternal nephew, a sister married to Yang Rixiu, Li Xiang as a granddaughter's husband, Zhu Shu as a grandniece's husband, and descendants Wang Fan and Wang Pizhi.

In the fifth year of the Xianping era of Emperor Zhenzong (1002), he entered from the local tribute examination and placed first in both the Ministry of Rites examination and the palace examination, becoming the examination champion. He was appointed Assistant Director of Palace Construction and assistant prefect of Jizhou. In the early Jingde era, he became Right Admonisher and Drafter of Imperial Edicts, concurrently a compiler at the Historiography Institute; in 1015 he entered the Hanlin Academy as an Academician. He later served as Vice Minister of Personnel and twice as Vice Councillor; in 1020 he was promoted to Vice Director of the Secretariat, and in 1025 transferred to Vice Director of the Menxia Province.

During Zhenzong's reign, Wang Zeng remonstrated against the production of the “heavenly books” and the large-scale construction of the Yuqing Zhaoying Palace. Chen Shu, while serving as chief examiner, recommended him first and praised him as a talent of his age. Wang Zeng in turn recommended Chen Geng and judged Zhang Bian capable of becoming a chief minister. While serving successively as Nanjing military prefect with Zhang Zhibai, he recognized Ji Ying for his integrity and learning and held him up as a model for the younger generation.

When Renzong came to the throne and Empress Dowager Liu took control of government, Wang Zeng was appointed Vice Director of the Secretariat, grand councilor in the Secretariat and Chancellery, and Grand Academician of the Jixian Hall; the court relied heavily on him. After Wang Qinruo's death, he became Grand Academician of the Zhaowen Hall and Supervisor of the National Historiography while serving as Vice Director of Menxia. His action to restrain the empress dowager's relatives—also described as having offended her wishes—led to his removal to Qingzhou in the seventh year of Tiansheng; he was then transferred to Tianxiong Command and made prefect of Henan.

In 1034, the first year of Jingyou, he was recalled as Commissioner of the Privy Council. The following year he returned as chief minister, taking the titles Right Vice Director of Menxia, Grand Councilor, and Grand Academician of Jixian Hall, and was ennobled Duke of Yi. In the fourth year of Jingyou he was dismissed and sent out as administrator of Yunzhou; accounts also attribute the joint dismissal to his disagreement with Lü Yijian. He died in the winter of 1038, the first year of Baoyuan, aged sixty-one; another account gives sixty, and he was posthumously named Wenzheng.

Other appointments included Judge of the Household Revenue section of the Three Offices, Director of the Sealing and Scrutiny Office, Langzhong in the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of War, Grand Academician of the Zizheng Hall, and Commissioner of the Yuqing Zhaoying Palace; his postings included Qingzhou and Yunzhou.

Works

Wang Zeng wrote the three-volume *Jiuyu tu* (九域圖), the one-volume *Qidan zhi* (契丹志), and the one-volume *Wang Wenzheng gong bilu* (王文正公筆錄), also titled *Wang Wenzheng bilu* (王文正筆錄). The transmission of the latter is disputed: one account says that it survives, while another says that it was not transmitted; seven poems are listed under his name.

Posthumous reception

After his death, Fu Bi and Song Qi composed epitaphs for him, Han Qi wrote a preface, Luo Congyan a biography, Yin Zhu a sacrificial text, and Liu Chang a genealogy inscription; Song Qi also wrote the reverse of the stele. Shi Jie wrote to him and composed a school record.