Wang Gui

Biography

Family Background and Early Life

Wang Gui came from a prominent aristocratic lineage of the Northern and Southern Dynasties period. His family traced its ancestry to the Wang clan of Taiyuan and later became known as the Wuwan branch of the Wang clan after his ancestor Wang Shennian served in Northern Wei as a military officer charged with protecting the Wuwan and was enfeoffed as Marquis of Guangyang. His great-grandfather Wang Shennian served Southern Liang as General of the Right Guard, while his grandfather Wang Sengbian became Grand Commandant and Director of the Department of State Affairs and was a major political figure in the final years of Liang. His father Wang Yi served Northern Qi as administrator of Leling Commandery. Wang Gui's mother, Lady Li, came from the Du clan of Jingzhao and was an eleventh-generation descendant of Du Yu, the Western Jin General Who Pacifies the South. This family background provided Wang Gui with a strong cultural education from childhood.

As a young man, Wang Gui was calm and reserved, had deep ambitions, cared little for fame or profit, and did not casually form friendships. His uncle Wang Gui was a noted scholar of the time with a reputation for judging talent and held him in particularly high regard, predicting that he would achieve great things. In 593, the thirteenth year of the Sui Kaihuang era, the twenty-two-year-old Wang Gui was summoned into the Palace Library administration and appointed an official responsible for ritual under the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, where he participated in collating books and texts. This marked the beginning of his official career.

Flight and Seclusion

In 604, the fourth year of the Renshou era, the Sui court entered a period of political upheaval. Emperor Wen of Sui, Yang Jian, died and Emperor Yang of Sui, Yang Guang, succeeded him. Wang Gui's uncle Wang Gui joined Yang Liang, Prince of Han and governor-general of Bingzhou, in rising against Yang Guang. After their defeat, Wang Gui's uncle was killed. Under Sui law, Wang Gui, as his nephew, was liable to collective punishment. To escape danger, he abandoned office and fled into hiding in the Zhongnan Mountains, where he remained for more than ten years.

During his seclusion, Wang Gui became close to Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui. His mother, Lady Li, once quietly observed the two men when they came to visit. Seeing their extraordinary bearing, she concluded that both would someday become chancellors and was deeply pleased that her son associated with men of such promise. This period not only preserved Wang Gui's life but also forged close ties with two men who would later become leading chancellors of the Tang.

Service under the Tang and Former Eastern Palace Official

In 617, the thirteenth year of the Sui Daye era, Li Yuan entered the Guanzhong region, enthroned the Prince of Dai, Yang You, as emperor, assumed the title Prince of Tang, and designated his eldest son Li Jiancheng as heir. On the recommendation of Li Gang, an official of the chancellor's administration, Wang Gui became an advisory military officer in Li Jiancheng's household. The following year, Li Yuan accepted the abdication of the Sui ruler, proclaimed himself emperor, and founded the Tang dynasty. Li Jiancheng was made crown prince. Wang Gui was appointed to the Eastern Palace, first as a palace official and later as Crown Prince's Central Secretary, becoming one of Li Jiancheng's important subordinates.

The conflict between Crown Prince Li Jiancheng and Prince of Qin Li Shimin intensified. In 624, the seventh year of the Wude era, Yang Wengan, governor of Qingzhou, rebelled in an affair that implicated Li Jiancheng. Emperor Gaozu of Tang, Li Yuan, held that Wang Gui, as an Eastern Palace official, had failed to remonstrate with the crown prince and thereby allowed discord between the brothers to deepen. Wang Gui was consequently exiled to Xizhou, in present-day Xichang, Sichuan.

Prominent Chancellor of the Zhenguan Era

In 626, the ninth year of the Wude era, Li Shimin launched the Xuanwu Gate Incident, killing Crown Prince Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji, Prince of Qi, and soon afterward ascended the throne as Emperor Taizong of Tang. Knowing Wang Gui's ability and setting aside their past political alignment, Li Shimin recalled Wang Gui together with Wei Zheng and appointed him Grand Master of Remonstrance. In the tenth month of that year, Taizong posthumously made Li Jiancheng Prince Xi and ordered a proper reburial. Wang Gui, Wei Zheng, and other former Eastern Palace officials jointly requested permission to accompany the funeral procession to the tomb, which Taizong granted. The action showed both Wang Gui's continued loyalty to his former master and his openness of character.

In 627, the first year of the Zhenguan era, Emperor Taizong discussed with his ministers the relationship between ruler and officials and expressed the hope that they would remonstrate frankly. Wang Gui replied, “If Your Majesty opens wide the channels for speech and accepts remonstrance, I will devote all my strength.” Taizong then allowed remonstrance officials to enter the palace and deliberate on affairs together with the chancellors. Thereafter Wang Gui repeatedly offered criticism and enjoyed the emperor's trust. He was appointed Vice Director of the Chancellery, concurrently Right Assistant to the Crown Prince, and granted the title Baron of Yongning County.

In 628, the second year of the Zhenguan era, Wang Gui succeeded Gao Shilian as acting Palace Attendant and was promoted to Duke of Yongning. In 630, Taizong formally appointed him Palace Attendant, placing him among the chancellors. As chancellor he became known for forthright counsel. He once urged Taizong to release a concubine formerly belonging to Li Yuan, Prince of Lujiang, arguing that the emperor knew Li Yuan had fallen because he killed a man and seized the man's wife, yet had kept the beautiful woman for himself, thus knowingly repeating the same wrongdoing. Taizong accepted the rebuke and immediately released her. Wang Gui also joined Wen Yanbo in defending Zu Xiaosun, a vice minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, and held to his position even when the emperor became angry.

In 633, the seventh year of the Zhenguan era, Wang Gui was demoted to governor of Tongzhou for revealing confidential discussions from within the palace. The next year Taizong recalled him and appointed him Minister of the Ministry of Rites, instructing him to participate in the revision of the Five Rites. In 637, the eleventh year of Zhenguan, Wang Gui was also appointed tutor to Li Tai, Prince of Wei. He treated himself as a teacher and calmly accepted Li Tai's formal obeisance. When Li Tai asked him about loyalty and filial piety, Wang Gui instructed him in the proper way to fulfill both and cited the saying of Liu Cang, Prince Xian of Dongping, that “doing good is the greatest joy.” Taizong was delighted when he learned of this and told Li Tai: “Treat Wang Gui as you would treat me, and you will avoid wrongdoing.”

In 638, the twelfth year of the Zhenguan era, Wang Gui submitted a memorial arguing that it was contrary to ritual for officials of the third rank and above to dismount and salute whenever they encountered princes of the imperial house. Taizong was initially displeased, believing that his officials were belittling his sons. Wang Gui and Wei Zheng strongly remonstrated, arguing that since the Zhou dynasty succession had passed from father to son rather than among brothers and that the power of princes should therefore be reduced to eliminate potential sources of disorder. Taizong ultimately accepted their advice.

Later Years and Posthumous Honors

In his later years Wang Gui continued to devote himself to the construction of ritual institutions. He revived the custom, long fallen out of use, by which an imperial princess paid formal respects to her parents-in-law. When Princess Nanping married his son Wang Jingzhi, Wang Gui and his wife sat in the place of honor and required the princess to bow to them. He explained: “The present sovereign is discerning and enlightened and follows established institutions in every action. My receiving the princess's obeisance is not for my own honor, but to perfect the state's ritual order.” Thereafter, when a princess married and her parents-in-law were still living, she was expected to perform the rites of a daughter-in-law.

In 639, the thirteenth year of the Zhenguan era, Wang Gui fell ill. Emperor Taizong sent his daughter Princess Nanping to visit him and dispatched Tang Jian, Minister of Revenue, to supervise his medicines and diet. Wang Gui died soon afterward at the age of sixty-nine. Taizong put on mourning clothes, ordered Li Tai, Prince of Wei, to lead the officials in the funeral procession, posthumously granted Wang Gui the office of Minister of Personnel, and gave him the posthumous name Yi.

Major Activities

Remonstrance and Political Activity

Wang Gui was one of the best-known remonstrance officials of the Zhenguan era. Often mentioned together with Wei Zheng, he was celebrated for speaking directly to the emperor. While serving as Grand Master of Remonstrance, Vice Director of the Chancellery, and Palace Attendant, he repeatedly advised Emperor Taizong on matters ranging from the emperor's personal conduct to court ritual and the education of imperial princes. His urging Taizong to release the concubine of the Prince of Lujiang, his defense of Zu Xiaosun, and his opposition to requiring third-rank officials to salute imperial princes all demonstrated his willingness to uphold ritual and law despite imperial displeasure. Taizong once ordered him to assess Fang Xuanling, Li Jing, Wen Yanbo, Dai Zhou, Wei Zheng, and other senior ministers. Wang Gui analyzed the strengths of each and modestly claimed that he himself possessed some ability in “raising the pure and condemning the corrupt, hating evil and loving good.” Taizong strongly agreed, and Fang Xuanling and the others also regarded the assessments as accurate.

Development of Ritual Institutions

As Minister of the Ministry of Rites, Wang Gui presided over revisions to the Five Rites and made an important contribution to the development of Tang ritual institutions. His restoration of the custom requiring princesses to pay formal respects to their parents-in-law was another notable measure in early Tang ritual. He advocated using ritual rules to regulate both ruler-minister relations and relations within the imperial house, thereby strengthening court discipline.

Travels and Places of Activity

Wang Gui's life took him across northern and southern China. In his early years he moved with his family from Qi County in Taiyuan to Wannian in Jingzhao. As a young man he held office in Chang'an and later lived in seclusion for more than ten years in the Zhongnan Mountains. At the end of the Sui he entered the household of the heir of the Prince of Tang and served in Guanzhong. In 624, the seventh year of the Wude era, he was exiled to Xizhou, in present-day Xichang, Sichuan, a major turning point in his life. During the Zhenguan era he served mainly in Chang'an, with a brief posting as governor of Tongzhou.

Relations with Contemporaries

Wang Gui formed close friendships with Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui while living in seclusion in the Zhongnan Mountains. His mother, Lady Li, had predicted that both men possessed the talent to become chancellors, and her judgment later proved correct. At the Zhenguan court, Wang Gui and Wei Zheng served together as remonstrance officials and supported one another in advising Taizong. He served alongside Wen Yanbo and once joined him in remonstrating on behalf of Zu Xiaosun. He was also a fellow chancellor of Li Jing, Dai Zhou, and others. As tutor to Li Tai, Prince of Wei, he played an important role in the prince's education.

As minister of rites he directed the revision of the Five Rites and other ceremonial codes and concurrently served as tutor to Li Tai, Prince of Wei, maintaining the demeanour of a teacher; he died in 639, the thirteenth year of Zhenguan, and Emperor Taizong mourned him in plain clothes, granting him posthumously the office of minister of personnel and the posthumous name Yi. His tenure over ritual matters was of a piece with his earlier opposition to third-rank officials bowing to imperial princes, and reflects the systematic reordering of clan precedence, court ceremony and the proper relations of ruler and minister in the Zhenguan period.

Personal Relations

• Great-grandfather: Wang Shennian, General of the Right Guard under Southern Liang
• Grandfather: Wang Sengbian, Grand Commandant and Director of the Department of State Affairs under Southern Liang
• Father: Wang Yi, administrator of Leling Commandery under Northern Qi
• Mother: Lady Li, from the Du clan of Jingzhao
• Uncle: Wang Gui, a noted Sui scholar
• Wife: Du Rouzheng, an eleventh-generation descendant of the Western Jin general Du Yu
• Son: Wang Jingzhi, husband of Princess Nanping, daughter of Emperor Taizong of Tang
• Li Gang: Recommended Wang Gui for service in the household of the heir of the Prince of Tang
• Fang Xuanling: Friend from the years of seclusion in the Zhongnan Mountains and later colleague at the Zhenguan court
• Du Ruhui: Friend from the years of seclusion in the Zhongnan Mountains and later colleague at the Zhenguan court
• Wei Zheng: Fellow remonstrance official and close associate
• Wen Yanbo: Fellow court official; once joined Wang Gui in remonstrating
• Li Jiancheng: Wang Gui served as an Eastern Palace official and was highly valued by him
• Li Shimin (Emperor Taizong of Tang): Employed Wang Gui despite their earlier political opposition; ruler and minister worked closely together
• Li Tai (Prince of Wei): Wang Gui served as his tutor
• Princess Nanping: Wang Gui's daughter-in-law and a daughter of Emperor Taizong of Tang
• Wang Gui (uncle): His participation in Yang Liang, Prince of Han's rebellion implicated Wang Gui
• Li Yuan (Emperor Gaozu of Tang): Exiled Wang Gui in connection with the crown prince affair

Historical Assessment

Tang Dynasty and Contemporary Views

• Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin, accepted many of Wang Gui's remonstrances. He once told Li Tai: “I have employed Wang Gui for a long time and know him well. Because his mind is devoted to loyalty and filial piety, I selected him as your teacher.”
• Wu Jing listed Wang Gui in Essentials of Government in the Zhenguan Reign among the senior officials of Taizong's court known for incisive remonstrance.
• Li Deyu: “A man such as Wang Gui may be called one who recognized subtle signs and understood fortune and misfortune.” (Collected Works of Duke Li of Wei from the Huichang Era)
• Chang Gun: “Between the Wude and Zhenguan eras, there were men such as Wei Zheng, Wang Gui, Li Jing, Li Ji, Fang Xuanling, and Du Ruhui, who supported the great enterprise and labored diligently for the royal house.” (Collected Works of Chancellor Chang)

Song and Yuan Periods

• Liu Xu of the Later Jin wrote in the Old Book of Tang: “Wang Gui followed the upright path without deviation; his loyal remonstrance was without equal. Ruler, minister, time, and destiny all met in him. The Book of Changes says, ‘Blessed from Heaven; auspicious, with nothing unfavorable.’ Shujie fulfilled this.”
• Song Qi of the Northern Song wrote in the New Book of Tang that Wang Gui, though orphaned and poor in youth, always repaid those who aided him once he became wealthy; he was not excessively harsh in office, supported his widowed sister-in-law, educated orphaned nephews as carefully as his own sons, aided needy members of his clan, and lived simply himself.
• Zeng Gong of the Northern Song listed Wang Gui among the notable ministers of Emperor Taizong's reign in the Longping Collection, treating him as a representative remonstrance official.

Ming and Qing Periods

• Wang Fuzhi, writing in Commentaries on the Comprehensive Mirror, discussed the remonstrance officials of the Zhenguan era and spoke favorably of Wang Gui's spirit of direct counsel.
• Zhao Yi of the Qing, in Notes on the Twenty-Two Histories, discussed the leading ministers of the early Tang and mentioned Wang Gui together with Wei Zheng, crediting both with major contributions to the political clarity of Taizong's reign.

Modern Period

• Chen Yinke discussed Wang Gui's participation in revising the Five Rites in Draft Essays on the Institutional Origins of the Sui and Tang Dynasties.
• Cen Zhongmian, in History of the Sui and Tang Dynasties, regarded Wang Gui as an important Zhenguan-era chancellor and affirmed his contribution as a remonstrance official.
• Huang Yongnian, in Twelve Lectures on Tang History, discussed Taizong's employment of former Eastern Palace officials after the Xuanwu Gate Incident and treated the appointments of Wang Gui and Wei Zheng as an important example of Taizong's political judgment.