Wang Chengyuan

Wang Chengyuan (801 – February 3, 834) formally the Duke of Qi , was a Chinese military general and politician during the Tang dynasty. His family had, for generations, controlled Chengde Circuit (成德, headquartered in modern Shijiazhuang, Hebei), but he declined the command of Chengde after the death of his older brother Wang Chengzong. He subsequently served as a general under imperial command until his death.

Before Wang Chengzong's death Wang Chengyuan was born in 801, during the reign of Emperor Dezong. He was a son of Wang Shizhen, who, around the time, took over as military governor (Jiedushi) of Chengde after the death of Wang Chengyuan's grandfather Wang Wujun. He had two elder brothers Wang Chengzong, Wang Chengxi and at least three younger brothers — Wang Chengtong , Wang Chengdi , and Wang Chengrong .

After Wang Shizhen died in 809, Wang Chengzong took over control of the circuit but was initially denied imperial sanction to succeed Wang Shizhen. Wang Chengzong received such imperial sanction in 810, however, after a failed imperial campaign against him.

After Wang Chengzong's death In winter 820, Wang Chengzong died, and initially, his subordinates kept his death a secret. At that time, Wang Chengzong's two sons Wang Zhigan and Wang Zhixin were serving as hostages at the capital Chang'an. The Chengde officers wanted one of their own to succeed Wang Chengzong, and Wang Chengzong's staff member Cui Sui declared an order in the name of Wang Wujun's wife Lady Li, as part of the subsequent movement of military governors in a campaign against Wang Tingcou (which subsequently ended in failure), Wang Chengyuan was transferred to Fufang Circuit (鄜坊, headquartered in modern Yan'an, Shaanxi). On the way to Fufang, he went to Chang'an to pay homage to Emperor Muzong, who approved of his behavior and met him on several occasions. Soon thereafter, he was transferred to Fengxiang Circuit (鳳翔, headquartered in modern Baoji, Shaanxi). At that time, because Fengxiang Circuit's land was flat, Tufan forces often were able to invade without obstacles. Wang Chengyuan built a fort, Fort Linqian , at a key strategic point to try to control such incursions. He was subsequently created the Duke of Qi. He also built a city east of the circuit capital Fengxiang to house the merchants who often travelled through the circuit. When his grandmother Lady Li died early in the Taihe era (827-835) of Emperor Muzong's son Emperor Wenzong, she was buried with much honor.

In 831, Wang was transferred to Pinglu Circuit (which had been divided into three circuits and whose headquarters had by that point been moved to modern Weifang, Shandong). At that point, the salt monopoly that the imperial government imposed on most of the realm was not imposed in the region, and Wang offered that the salt sales be transferred to the imperial authorities for the salt monopoly. His offer was accepted, and was soon also applied to the other two circuits carved out of Pinglu (Tianping (天平, headquartered in modern Tai'an) and Yanhai (兗海, headquartered in modern Jining, Shandong)). It was said that Wang was lenient and gracious, and wherever he went, he governed well. He died in 834 while still serving as the military governor of Pinglu. He was given posthumous honors.

Notes and references

Old Book of Tang, vol. 142. New Book of Tang, vol. 148. Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 241.