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bookofjin · 6 years

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Biography of Wang Lan

[Younger half-brother of Wang Xiang, grandfather of Wang Dao and Wang Dun. Great-grandfather of Wang Xizhi. Etc, etc.]

Lan, courtesy name Xuantong. His mother Zhu, met Xiang outside the road [?]. Lan was a few years old. He saw Xiang being whipped, and immediately with tears weeping embraces and grasped [him]. As he became older, he always admonished his mother. His mother a little stayed from malefic cruelty. Zhu often used bad reasons to send Xiang [on errands]. Lan always accompanied Xiang. She also cruelly sent Xiang's wife. Lan's wife likewise hurried and they went together. Zhu was worried by it, and therefore stopped.

After Xiang mourned his father, he gradually gained a reputation of the time. Zhu was extremely envious of him, and secretly made to poison Xiang. Lan understood it, and directly stood up to take the beer. Xiang suspected it was poisoned, and fought and did not give it. Zhu suddenly snatched it and turned it over. From then on when Zhu gave Xiang prepared food, Lan always tasted first. Zhu feared Lan would be killed, and thereupon stopped.

Lan was filial, friendly, respectful and reverent, [but] in fame was inferior to Xiang. When Xiang advanced in government, Lan likewise responded to the summons of the home commandery. Bit by bit he moved to the staff of the Western Board of the Minister over the Masses, and Grand Warden of Qinghe. When the Five Ranks were established, he was enfeoffed Viscount of Jiqiu, with an estate of 600 households.

At the end of Taishi [265 – 274], he filled the vacancy of Privy Treasurer for the Hongxun [Empress]. When the post was rationalised, he moved to Grand Palace Grandee, his blessings and bestowals similar with the ministers. At the beginning of Xianning [275 – 280], a decree said:

Lan as young was truly outstanding, [he was] yielding, humane and righteous in conduct, with a commitment to chaste simplicity. As an adult he is even more firm. Thus use Lan as Lineage Corrector minister.

Soon after, due to illness he sent up a missive requesting requesting retirement because of old age. A decree listened to him, and used him as Grand Palace Grandee as his retirement [office], bestowed 200 000 cash, bed and double straw mattress, and dispatched a doctor from within the halls to cure the illness and prepare medicine. He later moved to Brilliantly Blessed Grandee, his gates bestowed wooden fences.

In the 4th Year of Xianning [278 AD], he passed on, aged 73. His posthumous title was Chaste [zhen]. He had six sons: Cai, Ji, Hui, Zheng, Yan and Chen.

Cai, courtesy name Shichu, was Senior Clerk who Consoles the Army. Ji, courtesy name Shixian, was Document Composer Imperial Clerk. Hui, courtesy name Shihe, was Attendant Imperial Clerk. Zheng, courtesy name Shize, was Gentleman of the Masters of Writers. Yan, courtesy name Shizhi, was Army Protector of the Centre. Chen, courtesy name Shiwei, was Libationer of the Sons of State.

Earlier, Lü Qian [SGZ18] had a belt knife. A labourer assessed it, and considered [him] to be surely rising to the Three Excellencies, who would wear this knife. Qian spoke to Xiang and said:

If [I am] not its person, the knife maybe is harmful. Sir has the capacity for noble buttressing. For that reason [I] consider [you] to get along with it.

Xiang firmly refused. [Qiang] was determined on it so he therefore accepted. When Xiang approached passing away, he used the knife to confer it to Lan, saying:

When you later [or “your descendant”] surely rises up, it is enough to claim this knife.

Lan's descendants for many generations had many worthy talents, rising up in Jiangzuo. Cai's son Dao has a separate biography [in JS065].

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