Biography
Family Background and Early Life
Wang Hong came from the Wang clan of Langya, one of the most prominent aristocratic families of the Eastern Jin. His great-grandfather Wang Dao helped Sima Rui establish the Eastern Jin and rose to chancellor. His grandfather Wang Qia became General of the Central Army. His father Wang Xun served as General of the Guards and Minister of Education, was enfeoffed as Marquis of Dongting, and was known for scholarship and literary talent. Wang Hong was studious in youth and known for clarity of understanding; he was friendly with Xie Hun, Director of the Department of State Affairs.
Wang Hong began his official career in the household of Sima Daozi, Prince of Kuaiji, serving as a staff officer and chief clerk. At a time when farming had been disrupted and miscellaneous labor services were frequent, he proposed establishing military-agricultural colonies. In 400, the fourth year of the Long'an era, his father Wang Xun died and Wang Hong entered formal mourning. Wang Xun had accumulated valuables and held debt notes from many people. Wang Hong burned all the notes rather than collect the debts and left the remaining family property to his younger brothers. The act became celebrated among an aristocracy that prized personal detachment from wealth.
During his mourning period, Sima Yuanxian sought to appoint him advisory military officer, adding the title General Who Pacifies the Distant and placing him in charge of documentary affairs, but Wang Hong declined. Sima Daozi then sought to employ him as advisory military officer, add the title General Who Establishes Might, and place him in charge of the central troops; Wang Hong again refused. Huan Xuan was then struggling with Sima Yuanxian, while the Sun En rebellion compounded the crisis. Many people were unable to complete the prescribed mourning period amid internal and external turmoil, but Wang Hong persisted in observing it fully.
Entry into Liu Yu's Staff
In 402, the first year of the Yuanxing era, Huan Xuan captured Jiankang and had Sima Daozi arrested and sent to the Court of Judicial Review for judgment. Officials were too frightened to see him off, but Wang Hong, still in mourning, bowed by the roadside, grasped the side of Sima Daozi's carriage, and wept. The gesture won widespread praise.
In 404, the third year of the Yuanxing era, Liu Yu raised troops, defeated the usurper Huan Xuan, and captured Jiankang. After being promoted to General Who Pacifies the Army, Liu Yu summoned Wang Hong as an advisory officer and enfeoffed him as a fifth-rank Marquis of Huarong County. Wang Hong later held a succession of posts, including staff officer to the Grand Marshal serving the Prince of Langya, General Who Pacifies the Distant, Interior Administrator of Langya, Personnel Bureau Director in the Department of State Affairs, and Chancellor of Yuzhang.
In 410, the sixth year of the Yixi era, Lu Xun and Xu Daofu advanced northward, and Xu Daofu attacked the commanderies of Nankang, Luling, and Yuzhang. Wang Hong fled to Xunyang, present-day Jiujiang, Jiangxi. Liu Yu later appointed him advisory officer to the General of the Central Army. He went on to serve as Right Chief Clerk to the Grand Marshal and as Interior Administrator of Wu. In 415, the eleventh year of the Yixi era, Liu Yu summoned him as Chief Clerk to the Grand Commandant and later transferred him to Left Chief Clerk. The following year he accompanied Liu Yu on the northern expedition against Later Qin. In 417, after the vanguard captured Luoyang, Liu Yu sent Wang Hong back to court with an envoy to request the Nine Bestowments, an important step in Liu Yu's eventual replacement of the Jin. In 418, when Liu Yu returned to Pengcheng, Wang Hong concurrently served as administrator of Pengcheng. In the same year Liu Yu was enfeoffed as Duke of Song and received the Nine Bestowments, while Wang Hong was appointed Director of the Department of State Affairs and put in charge of personnel selection. Soon afterward he was transferred to supervise military affairs in Jiangzhou and in the Xiyang and Xincai commanderies of Yuzhou, and served as General Who Pacifies the Army and governor of Jiangzhou. While in Jiangzhou he reduced taxes and labor services, bringing greater stability to the population.
Founding of Liu Song and Regency
In 420, the first year of the Yongchu era, Liu Yu replaced Jin and founded Song. Wang Hong, as a founding meritorious official, was additionally appointed Regular Mounted Attendant and enfeoffed as Duke of Huarong County. In the first month of 422, the third year of Yongchu, he was promoted to General of the Guards and Commander Unequalled in Honor.
In 424, the second year of the Jingping era, Minister of Works Xu Xianzhi, Director of the Secretariat Fu Liang, governor of Jingzhou Xie Hui, and others planned to depose Liu Yifu, Emperor Shao of Liu Song. Wang Hong and Tan Daoji were summoned to court and informed of the plan. Emperor Shao was deposed as Prince of Yingyang, and Liu Yilong, Prince of Yidu, was enthroned as Emperor Wen of Liu Song. After Emperor Wen took the throne, he offered Wang Hong the post of Minister of Works. Wang Hong declined, and instead received the additional titles Bearer of Credentials and Palace Attendant, was assigned command of military affairs in two commanderies while remaining governor of Jiangzhou and Commander Unequalled in Honor, and was promoted to General of Chariots and Cavalry.
In the first month of 426, the third year of Yuanjia, Emperor Wen executed Xu Xianzhi and Fu Liang, the leading figures in the earlier deposition. Wang Hong had not been a principal organizer of that act, and his younger brother Wang Tanshou was highly trusted by Emperor Wen, so Wang Hong was informed in advance and escaped involvement. He was subsequently recalled to court as Palace Attendant, Minister of Education, governor of Yangzhou, and Supervisor of the Affairs of the Secretariat, and was granted thirty ceremonial swords for his guards. Soon afterward Emperor Wen personally campaigned against Xie Hui, governor of Jingzhou, while Wang Hong and Liu Yikang, Prince of Pengcheng, remained behind to guard Jiankang.
Later Years and Death
In 428, the fifth year of Yuanjia, Wang Hong accepted responsibility for a severe drought and asked to withdraw from office. Cheng Can, magistrate of Pinglu, wrote to advise him to reduce his power and bring Liu Yikang, then governor of Jingzhou, to court to take charge of government, thereby preserving his own security and longevity. Fan Tai likewise believed that the Wang brothers held excessive influence and urged Wang Hong to summon Liu Yikang to share state affairs and reduce the family's power. Emperor Wen initially refused Wang Hong's request, but after Wang Hong persisted he was reduced to General of the Guards while retaining the title Commander Unequalled in Honor.
In the first month of 429, the sixth year of Yuanjia, Wang Hong submitted a memorial recommending Liu Yikang. Liu Yikang was finally brought to court, succeeded him as Minister of Education, and shared the office of Supervisor of the Affairs of the Secretariat. Wang Hong later repeatedly requested retirement because of illness, but permission was denied. In the third month of 432, the ninth year of Yuanjia, he was promoted to Grand Protector and concurrently appointed Director of the Secretariat. He died on the renshen day of the fifth month (July 12), aged fifty-four, and received the posthumous name Wenzhao. His existing honors were augmented after death; he was granted ceremonial insignia, music, and an increase in ceremonial swords from thirty to sixty, and was enshrined in Liu Yu's ancestral temple. Emperor Wen also ordered an increase of one thousand households in his estate and bestowed one million cash and one thousand hu of grain.