Wang Jian 王儉

Wang Jian 王儉 (452-489), courtesy name Zhongbao 仲寶, from Linyi 臨沂 in the commandery of Langye 瑯邪 (in today's Shandong province) was a high minister, bibliographer and writer of the Liu-Song 劉宋 (420-479) and Southern Qi 南齊 (479-502) periods. He was a son of Wang Sengzhuo 王僧綽 (423-453), who served the Song as a palace attendant (shizhong 侍中). Wang Sengzhuo was killed when Liu Shao 劉劭 (424-453) assassinated his father, Emperor Wen 宋文帝 (r. 424-453), and Wang Jian was therefore raised by his uncle Wang Sengqian 王僧虔 (425-485). However, he inherited the title of Marquis of Yuning 豫寧侯, and married Princess Yangxian 女陽羨公主, a daughter of Emperor Ming 宋明帝 (r. 465-472).

Towards the end of the Song period, he was an assistant in the Palace Library (mishu lang 秘書郎), a secretary of the Heir Apparent (taizi sheren 太子舍人), governor (taishou 太守) of the commandery of Yixing 義興, Gentleman of the Palace Gate (huangmen lang 黃門郎), and finally palace attendant. When the Southern Qi replaced the Song dynasty, he was made Vice Director of the Imperial Secretariat (shangshu puye 尚書僕射), head of the Department of Personnel (libu 吏部), and was invested as Duke of the District of Nanchang 南昌縣公. The last will of Emperor Gao included Wang Jian's appointment as Director of the Imperial Secretariat (shangshu ling 尚書令) and General of Defence (zhenjun jiangjun 鎮軍將軍). In 438, he was made General of the Guard (weijun jiangjun 衛軍將軍. A year later, he was made Director of the Directorate of Education (guozi jijiu 國子祭酒) and metropolitan magistrate (yin 尹) of Danyang 丹陽. In 489, Wang was promoted to Supervisor of the Palace Secretariat (zhongshu jian 中書監), but he died unexpectedly. His posthumous title is Duke Wenxian of Nanchang 南昌縣文憲公.

Wang Jian’s most important contribution to scholarship was his book catalogue Qizhi 七志, and the less famous catalogue Yuanhui sibu shumu 元徽四部書目. Both are lost, but fragmentary information is found in the early Tang-period 唐 (618-907) catalogue Suishu jingzhi zhi 隋書經籍志.

The most outstanding feature of Wang's catalogue was the inclusion of paintings and illustrations, with a separate chapter called Tupu zhi 圖譜志. He also founded a section called Wenhan 文翰, which was the precursor of collected writings of individual writers or anthologies. Other special aspects of the Qizhi are the elevation of the book Xiaojing 孝經 to the first position of the Classics. Wang also added brief biographical information to authors. Finally, he included contemporary writings into the same sections as older texts.

Wang Jian's writing was refined and well-structured, and highly esteemed at the time. Most of his poetry consists of elegant and solemn four-character verses. A few of his shorter five-character lyrical poems that describe scenery are particularly outstanding. Most of Wang Jian's prose consists of argumentative essays discussing rites and rituals. He wrote entirely in prose style (santi 散體), rarely using parallel prose (pian'ou 駢偶). Among his epitaph writings (beizhi 碑志), the most famous is the epitaph for Chu Yuan 褚淵 (435-482; Taizai Wenjian Chu Gong Yanhui bei 太宰文簡褚公彥回碑), included in the anthology Wenxuan 文選. It is richly adorned and full of lavish praise, for which many critics during the Ming and Qing dynasties expressed disapproval.Wang Jian was a central figure in the literary scene of early Qi and once oversaw the Imperial Academy v, using his own residence as its quarters. He was a strong advocate for literature and enthusiastically supported emerging talent: Historians say, even if someone came from a humble background, Wang would still earnestly guide and encourage them. Writers like Ren Fang 任昉 (460-508), Wang Chi 王摛 (452-489), or Xiao Zike 蕭子恪 (478-529), and others all received his recognition.

In Southern Dynasties literature, the use of historical allusions (yongshi 用事) was highly valued, and skill in referencing classical sources (shudian 數典) was considered a mark of literary excellence. Wang Jian was one of the promoters of these trends. Wang Jian once gathered talented scholars to compile and verify historical facts, categorizing and organizing them under topics—this practice was called "classified allusions" (lishi 隸事), and it originated with him. From then on, literary writing in the Qi and Liang 梁 (502-557) dynasties tended to be praised for its richness and breadth of reference. However, in Wang Jian's own writings, classical allusions were not excessively or overly complex.

Wang's collected works Wang Wenxian ji 王文憲集 were reconstructed during the Ming period 明 (1368-1644) by Wang Pu 張溥 (1602-1641).