Wang Daokun (1525–1593) was a Ming-dynasty literary figure, playwright, and political official. Initially styled Yuqing (玉卿) and later Boyu (伯玉), he used the sobriquets Taihan (太函) and Nanming (南溟) and was a native of She County in Huizhou Prefecture (present-day She County, Anhui). His other recorded forms include the ordinal name Yi (一), Nanming (南明), Songmingshanren (松明山人), Wang Boyu (汪伯玉), Wang Yuqing (汪玉卿), Fangwai Sima (方外司馬), Wang Shoukun (汪守昆), Gaoyangsheng (高陽生), Taihanshi (太函氏), Taimaoshi (泰茅氏), and Tianyouzi (天游子).
Life
His great-grandfather was Wang Xun (汪塤), his grandfather Wang Xuanyi (汪玄儀), his father Wang Liangbin (汪良彬), and his mother Hu (胡氏). He had younger brothers Wang Daoguan (汪道貫) and Wang Daotan (汪道坦), and a younger male cousin, Wang Daohui (汪道會). His wife is named Wu in one form and Wu Juan (吳娟) in another; a second wife is also listed as Wu. His grandson was Wang Yaoguang (汪瑤光), and he also had an unnamed granddaughter.
In 1547, the twenty-sixth year of the Jiajing reign, he passed the jinshi examination, ranking 107th in the third class; his examination career also includes the statuses of provincial recommended candidate and shengyuan (licentiate). He was appointed magistrate of Yiwu, where he instructed the people in military arts and trained the Yiwu troops; he later recruited Yiwu soldiers with Qi Jiguang and defeated wokou raiders.
His career included langzhong of the Ministry of War's Military Selection Office (兵部武選司郎中), prefect of Xiangyang (襄陽知府), military commissioner of Funing (福寧兵備道), Fujian surveillance commissioner (福建提刑按察使), Right Associate Chief Censor (都察院右僉都御史), deputy censor (副都御史), and provincial governor (巡撫); he is also described as a censor-in-chief (御史中丞). His governorships covered Yunyang, Fujian, and Huguang; the appointment at Yunyang is dated to 1570, the fourth year of the Longqing reign. The Fujian post is also described as an assistant surveillance commissioner (福建按察副使), and he ended his career as Vice Minister of War, with postings as Right and Left Vice Minister.
Literature and associations
His prose was concise and well ordered; he excelled in poetry and prose and was also noted for classical prose. He regularly exchanged literary criticism with Li Panlong and Wang Shizhen, and Wang Shizhen counted him among the “Later Five Sons.” Wang Shizhen and Zhang Juzheng were his fellow jinshi of the twenty-sixth year of Jiajing; Wang Shizhen also held office as Vice Minister of War, giving rise to the designation “Two Simas,” and Wang Daokun was a friend of Bi Maokang.
After the Censor-in-Chief 劉愨 rebuilt the Yellow Crane Tower in 1571, Wang Daokun wrote the Huanghelou ji (《黃鶴樓記》).
Works and drama
He was proficient in musical theory. His zaju plays included Gaotang meng (《高唐夢》), Wuhu you (《五湖游》), Yuanshan xi (《遠山戲》), Luoshui bei (《洛水悲》), and Tang Minghuang qixi Changsheng dian (《唐明皇七夕長生殿》). His works include the 120-volume Taihan ji (《太函集》), the 22-volume Taihan fumo (《太函副墨》), the one-volume Chu Sao pin (《楚騷品》), Shu qian ye pu (《數錢葉譜》), and Qi lie zhuan (《七烈傳》), as well as Bei Lu jilüe (《北虜紀略》) and Dayatang zaju (《大雅堂雜劇》).
References
- CBDB Wang Daokun (127530)
- 搜韵 汪道昆 (51154)
- 法鼓佛教人名规范数据库 汪道昆 (A007641)
- Wikidata Wang Daokun (Q11137171)