Wang Qinruo

Life and career

His father was Wang Zhonghua; one lineage names his grandfather as Wang Ben. Another tradition says that Wang Zhonghua was serving in Ezhou under Zu Yu when a sudden flood drove the family to Yellow Crane Tower; an unusual light was seen above the tower that night, when Wang Qinruo was born. He married Lady Li; his sons included Wang Congyi and Wang Qingzhi, and his sons-in-law included Zhang Huaiyu and Zhang Gui, while Chen Zhili was a granddaughter's husband.

He passed the jinshi examination in the top category in 992, under Emperor Taizong, and began as Defense Commander's Judicial Officer of Bozhou. After an examination at the Hanlin Academy, he became Right Remonstrant and Drafter of Edicts, and was later promoted Hanlin Academician.

Early in Emperor Zhenzong's Xianping era, he headed the office for settling arrears in the Three Finance Offices. He proposed remitting more than ten million in arrears and releasing more than three thousand prisoners; in Xianping 4 (1001), he became vice councillor and was appointed Jishizhong.

When the Khitan invaded in Jingde 1 (1004), he secretly urged Zhenzong to move the capital to Jinling, but Kou Zhun blocked the proposal; Wang Qinruo later repeatedly petitioned to leave office. He subsequently served as Director of the Department of State Affairs and supervised the compilation of Cefu Yuangui; he also served as Vice Minister of Works, vice councillor, and governor of Tianxiong Commandery, supervised the Hebei Transport Commission, and then headed the Bureau of Military Affairs.

In Dazhong Xiangfu 5 (1012), he became Commissioner of the Bureau of Military Affairs and a chief councillor. During the Dazhong Xiangfu era, he acted on a secret imperial instruction to produce “heavenly books,” joined in presenting auspicious portents, and strongly advocated the Mount Tai enfeoffment and rites at Fenyin; he later served as Minister of Rites, Revenue, and Personnel.

In Tianxi 1 (1017), he was made Left Deputy Director of the Department of State Affairs, concurrently serving as Vice Minister of the Secretariat, and held the titles of Inspector Grand Preceptor and chief councillor. In Tianxi 3 (1019) he was sent out to administer Hangzhou; in Tianxi 4 (1020) he administered Henan Prefecture, but was demoted to a separate Nanjing assignment for leaving his post without authorization. His later appointments included administering Haozhou in 1022 and Shengzhou in 1023, together with the office of Minister of Justice.

In the first year of Tiansheng (1023), under Emperor Renzong, he returned to the chief councillorship, was appointed Sikong (Grand Master of Works) and Menxia shilang (Vice Director of the Chancellery), and advanced to Situ (Grand Master of Education); in the second year he was made Duke of Ji. He died in Tiansheng 3 (1025) at the age of sixty-four and was posthumously granted the titles Grand Preceptor and Chancellor of the Secretariat, with the posthumous name Wenmu.

Political position and reputation

He served twice as chancellor during Zhenzong's reign. A pro-peace politician, he advocated moving the capital south and opposed the pro-war position of Kou Zhun; because he was short and had a growth on his neck, contemporaries called him Yingxiang, and he was regarded as a representative of the pro-peace faction. He associated with Ding Wei, Lin Te, Chen Pengnian, and Liu Chenggui; the group was known at the time as the “Five Devils.”

Writings

He supervised the compilation of Cefu Yuangui in 1,000 juan and also authored Tianxi Dali Ji in 50 juan, with a two-juan table of contents; he supervised Daoist works as well and wrote The Biography of the Perfect Sovereign Yisheng Baode in two juan (extant), Xiantian ji in 30 juan, Wuyue Guangwen in 100 juan, and other works. His works also include Lubu ji and Shengzu shiji; four of his poems are preserved.