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Wei Wan 衛綰

Sep 16, 2011 © Ulrich Theobald

Wei Wan 衛綰 (d. 131 BCE) was a high official during the early Former Han period 前漢 (206 BCE-8 CE).

He hailed from Daling 大陵 (londern Wenshui 文水, Shanxi) and served as a commander of chariots (che duwei 車都尉) under Emperor Wen 漢文帝 (r. 180-157) . For his bravery he was made Leader of the court gentlemen (zhonglangjiang 中郎將). Under Emperor Jing 漢景帝 (r. 157-141 BCE) he was appointed Grand Mentor (taifu 太傅) of the Prince of Hejian 河間, Liu De 劉德.

During the rebellion of the Seven Princes he had command over part of the troops fighting agains the princes of Wu 吳 and Chu 楚. He was therefore appointed Commandant of the Capital (zhongwei 中尉) and later given the title of Marquis of Jianling 建陵侯. When Emperor Jing named Liu Che 劉徹 as heir apparent, Wei Wan was made the Crown Prince's Grand Mentor. Later he took over the office of Censor-in-chief (yushi dafu 御史大夫).

In 143 he succeeded Liu She 劉舍 in the office of Counsellor-in-chief (chengxiang 丞相). On the accession of Liu Che to the throne (Emperor Wu 漢武帝, r. 141-87) he resigned. His posthumous title is either Marquis Jing 敬侯 (according to the Shiji 史記) or Marquis Ai 哀侯 (according to the Hanshu 漢書).

Source:
Cang Xiuliang 倉修良, ed. (1996). Hanshu cidian 漢書辭典 (Jinan: Shandong jiaoyu chubanshe), 1025.