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Wang Guan 王觀

Jun 9, 2016 © Ulrich Theobald

Wang Guan 王觀, courtesy name Weitai 偉台, was a high minister of the Wei dynasty 曹魏 (220-265) during the Three Kingdoms period 三國 (220-280).

His native town was Linqiu 廩丘 in the commandery of Dongjun 東郡 (today's Zhencheng 甄城, Shandong) and was known for his good eduction. The warlord Cao Cao 曹操 therefore made him clerk-instructor (wenxue yuan 文學掾) and then gave him several appointments as magistrate (ling 令) in the local administration. Emperor Wen 魏文帝 (r. 220-226) appointed him secretarial court gentleman (shangshu lang 尚書郎) and then Vice Chamberlain for Law Enforcement (? tingweijian 廷尉監). Out again in the local administration, Wang Guan was governor (taishou 太守) of the commanderies of Nanyang 南陽 and Zhuojun 涿郡.

Under Emperor Ming 魏明帝 (r. 226-239 CE) he was made secretarial censor (zhishu shi yushi 治書侍御史) and became then a retainer of the regent Sima Yi 司馬懿, as palace attendant (zhonglang 中郎), secretarial court gentleman (shangshu 尚書), metropolitan magistrate (yin 尹) of Henan, and then Chamberlain for the Palace Revenues (shaofu 少府).

Emperor Cao Fang 曹芳 (r. 239-254) appointed him Grand Master for Splendid Happiness (guanglu dafu 光祿大夫) and bestowed on him the title of Neighbourhood Marquis of Zhongxiang 中鄉亭侯. The new emperor brought Wang Guan the title of Minister of Works (sikong 司空) and Township Marquis of Yangxiang 陽鄉侯. His posthumous title was Marquis Su 陽鄉肅侯.

Source:
Zhang Shunhui 張舜徽, ed. (1992). Sanguozhi cidian 三國志辭典 (Jinan: Shandong jiaoyu chubanshe), 40.