Wang Wan

Life

Wang Wan was born into an official family and was involved in the Fushe movement in his early years. He became a jinshi in the twelfth year of the Shunzhi reign (1655); his palace-examination placement is variously given as second class, 46th place, or first class, 19th place, and his examination record also lists xianggong juren.

After entering government service, he held offices including Hubu zhushi, Hubu yuanwailang, Xingbu langzhong, Xingbu Henan si langzhong, bing ma si zhi hui, bei cheng bing ma si zhi hui, and guan jian du. The office record dates the Xingbu Henan si langzhong appointment to Shunzhi 17, the bei cheng bing ma si zhi hui appointment to Shunzhi 18, and the guan jian du appointment to Kangxi 8.

In Kangxi 9 (1670), he resigned, returned home, built the Yaofeng estate, and devoted himself to writing. In Kangxi 18 (1679), he was summoned for the Boxue hongci examination, placed in the first grade, appointed a Hanlin compiler, and joined the compilation of the History of Ming; he worked diligently in the historiographical office, refused to bend to others’ wishes, and requested sick leave after a little more than sixty days.

In later life he built a retreat on Mount Yaofeng by Lake Tai and shut himself away to write, taking no interest in public affairs.

Family and associations

His great-grandfather was 汪禧, his grandfather 汪起鶴, and his father 汪膺; his sons were 汪是穮, 汪榖貽, and 汪徵蘭.

He was friends with 王士禎, 陳廷敬, and 汪益亨. After serving in departmental posts, he joined Wang Xiqiao and his brothers in composing poetry in the capital. His students included 惠周惕, 林佶, 計東, and 孫炌; 惠周惕 studied under him.

Scholarship and literature

Wang Wan was accomplished in classical prose, drawing on Ouyang Xiu and resembling Gui Youguang; he also had attainments in classical learning. He studied the classics and histories extensively, and his arguments were well grounded.

He was skilled in classical prose and was ranked with Hou Fangyu and Wei Xi as one of the “Three Great Masters of the Early Qing.”

His poetry was initially close to Tang models, later took Jian’nan and Shihu as its models, and was judged by one anthology to decline in its later phase.

Works

His works include 《堯峰文鈔》 (50 juan), 《堯峰詩文鈔》 (50 juan), 《堯峰詩鈔》 (11 juan), 《鈍翁前後類稿》 (62 juan), 《鈍翁續稿》 (56 juan), and 《鈍翁類稿》 (180 juan).

Other titles include 《古今五服考異》 (8 juan), 《堯峰文稿》 (40 juan), 《堯峰文錄》 (16 juan), 《大通橋分司題壁記》, 《姑蘇楊柳枝詞》 (1 juan), 《寸碧堂集》 (3 juan), 《擬明史列傳》 (24 juan), 《東都事略跋》, 《歸文考異》 (3 juan), 《歸文辨誣錄》, 《歸氏考異》, and 《汪氏傳家集》 (130 juan).

Additional works include 《菁菴遺稿》 (1 juan), 《詩問》 (1 juan), 《說鈴》 (1 juan), 《震川年譜》, and 《震川詩註》.

Posthumous title

His posthumous title was Wenqing xiansheng (文清先生).