Wang Xi

Biography

Family Background and Early Life

Historical sources preserve no information on Wang Xi's family background. His name first appears in the historical record at the beginning of Liu Bang's uprising. According to the “Chronological Table of the Meritorious Marquises of Gaozu” in the Records of the Grand Historian, Wang Xi “followed the uprising at Feng as a palace attendant,” meaning that he joined Liu Bang at Feng in that capacity. The office of palace attendant already existed under Qin and involved close personal service at court; in Liu Bang's army it referred to attendants close to the leader. This suggests that Wang Xi belonged to Liu Bang's early inner circle and had a close relationship with him.

From the Uprising at Feng to Bashang

Wang Xi followed Liu Bang in the Pei area and took part in several battles during the early anti-Qin campaigns. As Liu Bang advanced westward, Wang Xi remained with him. In October 207 BCE, the first year of King Ziying of Qin, Liu Bang's army entered the Guanzhong region, King Ziying surrendered, and Liu Bang encamped at Bashang. Wang Xi was then appointed commander of the cavalry gentlemen. Since Liu Bang had not yet proclaimed himself emperor and the official military hierarchy was still unsettled, the position appears to have been a command over mounted palace gentlemen. Wang Xi later accompanied Liu Bang as one of his officers when Liu Bang met Xiang Yu at the Hongmen banquet.

Entering Hanzhong and the Attempt to Retrieve Liu Bang's Family

In 206 BCE, the first year of the Han, Xiang Yu divided the realm and made Liu Bang King of Han, with Ba, Shu, and Hanzhong under his control. Wang Xi followed Liu Bang into Hanzhong. In the eighth month of the same year, Liu Bang adopted Han Xin's plan and returned by way of the old road to pacify the Three Qin. At the same time, he ordered Generals Wang Xi and Xue Ou to lead troops out through Wuguan Pass and proceed via Wang Ling's forces stationed in Nanyang toward Pei County, intending to bring Liu Taigong, Lü Zhi, and the rest of Liu Bang's family to safety. Xiang Yu learned of the plan and stationed troops at Yangxia, preventing the Han forces from advancing. The attempt therefore failed. The episode is recorded in the “Basic Annals of Gaozu” in the Records of the Grand Historian.

During the Chu–Han Contention

After the failed attempt to retrieve Liu Bang's family, Wang Xi continued to participate in the Chu–Han Contention as a general. Historical sources provide few details of his specific military achievements, stating only that he was enfeoffed for “merit in attacking Xiang Yu as a general.” His inclusion among the eighteen marquises in the merit tables of the Records of the Grand Historian and the Book of Han indicates that his military contribution ranked relatively high among Liu Bang's commanders.

Enfeoffment and Later Years

On the jiashen day of the twelfth month in the sixth year of Emperor Gaozu of Han (13 February 201 BCE), Liu Bang made a major distribution of fiefs to meritorious officials, and Wang Xi was enfeoffed as Marquis of Qingyang. Qingyang was a county, initially under Julu Commandery in the early Han; Qinghe Commandery was later separated from Julu under Emperor Jing, after which Qingyang came under Qinghe. The Records of the Grand Historian records Wang Xi's fief as 3,100 households, while the Book of Han gives 2,200 households.

Wang Xi held the marquisate for twenty-three years and died in 179 BCE, the first year of Emperor Wen of Han. He received the posthumous title Ding and was therefore known as Marquis Ding of Qingyang.

Major Activities

Joining Liu Bang's Uprising

Wang Xi joined Liu Bang's uprising at Feng as a palace attendant and belonged to Liu Bang's earliest group of followers. From Feng to Bashang, he remained with Liu Bang throughout and was appointed commander of the cavalry gentlemen.

Leaving Wuguan Pass to Retrieve Liu Bang's Family

In the eighth month of 206 BCE, the first year of the Han, Liu Bang ordered Wang Xi and Xue Ou to lead troops out through Wuguan Pass and proceed by way of Wang Ling's position in Nanyang toward Pei County to retrieve Liu Taigong and Lü Zhi. Xiang Yu sent troops to block them at Yangxia, and the Han force could not advance. This was a direct military confrontation between the Han and Xiang Yu's forces in the early Chu–Han Contention and is the clearest specific military action involving Wang Xi in the surviving historical record.

Enfeoffment for Military Merit

During the Chu–Han Contention, Wang Xi gained merit fighting Xiang Yu as a general. In the twelfth month of 201 BCE, the sixth year of Emperor Gaozu, he was rewarded as Marquis of Qingyang and counted among the eighteen marquises designated by Emperor Gaozu of Han.

Personal Relations

Family

• Son: Wang Jiang, who inherited the title Marquis of Qingyang in 179 BCE, the first year of Emperor Wen of Han; he held it for seven years and received the posthumous title Ai.
• Grandson: Wang Kang, who inherited the title in 172 BCE, the eighth year of Emperor Wen; he held it for twenty years and received the posthumous title Xiao.
• Great-grandson: Wang Buhai, who inherited the title in 152 BCE, the fifth year of Emperor Jing of Han; he held it for nineteen years and died in 133 BCE, the second year of Yuanguang under Emperor Wu of Han. With no direct legitimate heir, the marquisate was abolished.
• Great-great-grandson: Wang Chongguo, resident in Chang'an and holder of the rank dafu. In 62 BCE, the fourth year of Yuankang under Emperor Xuan of Han, an imperial order restored the household and some rights associated with the marquisate.

Ruler and Minister

• Liu Bang: Wang Xi's ruler. Wang Xi followed him from the uprising at Feng, and Liu Bang later enfeoffed him as Marquis of Qingyang.
• Liu Heng (Emperor Wen of Han): Wang Xi died in 179 BCE, the first year of Emperor Wen, and received the posthumous title Ding.

Colleagues

• Xue Ou: Another officer under Liu Bang; in 206 BCE he and Wang Xi together led troops out through Wuguan Pass to retrieve Liu Taigong and Lü Zhi.
• Wang Ling: Stationed in Nanyang. Wang Xi and Xue Ou intended to proceed via Wang Ling's forces toward Pei County but were blocked by troops sent by Xiang Yu.

Historical Assessment

Han / Contemporary Sources

• The “Chronological Table of the Meritorious Marquises of Gaozu” in the Records of the Grand Historian lists Wang Xi among Gaozu's meritorious marquises and records that he followed the uprising at Feng as a palace attendant, reached Bashang, became commander of the cavalry gentlemen, entered Han territory, and was enfeoffed for military merit against Xiang Yu, with a fief of 3,100 households.
• The “Table of Meritorious Officials under Gaozu, Hui, and Empress Gao” in the Book of Han similarly records that he followed from Feng to Bashang, served as commander of the cavalry gentlemen, entered Han territory, fought Xiang Ji as a general, and was enfeoffed with 2,200 households; it also records his descendants.
• The Chu-Han Chunqiu refers to him as Wang Long, Marquis of Qingyang.

Later Textual Criticism

• Qing scholar Qian Daxin discussed the discrepancy between the household totals given in the Records of the Grand Historian and the Book of Han in Nian'ershi Kaoyi, but did not determine which figure was correct.
• Qing scholar Liang Yusheng also examined the date of Wang Xi's enfeoffment and the household figures in Shiji Zhiyi.

Modern Period

Modern research on Wang Xi focuses chiefly on the founding-merit group of the early Han and the question of the eighteen marquises. As one of the eighteen, Wang Xi is often cited as a representative member of the military-merit stratum that benefited from the establishment of the Han dynasty.