Wang Ya

Wang Ya (; died December 17, 835 ), courtesy name Guangjin , noble title Duke of Dai , was an official of the Chinese Tang dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reigns of Emperor Xianzong and Emperor Xianzong's grandson Emperor Wenzong. During Emperor Wenzong's reign, he became involved in a major power struggle between imperial officials and eunuchs known as the Sweet Dew incident, and he was killed via waist chop by the eunuchs along with three other chancellors, Li Xun, Jia Su, and Shu Yuanyu.

Background It is not known what year Wang Ya was born in—although he should have been born sometime between 757 and 765, as he was said to be in his 70s when he eventually died in 835. His family was from the Tang dynasty's northern capital Taiyuan and claimed to be descended from the Northern Wei official Wang Jiong . His grandfather Wang Zuo served as a military advisor to a prefect, while his father Wang Huang served as a prefectural prefect. He had at least two older brothers, Wang Zhao and Wang Jie .

In 792, during the reign of Emperor Dezong, Wang Ya passed the imperial examinations in the class of those who used grand speech, and he was made the sheriff of Lantian County (藍田, in modern Xi'an, Shaanxi). In 804, he was made Hanlin Xueshi , an imperial scholar. He thereafter served in the palace, going through the offices of You Shiyi , a low-level consultant at the legislative bureau of government (中書省, Zhongshu Sheng); Zuo Bujue , a consultant at the examination bureau (門下省, Menxia Sheng); and Qiju Sheren , an imperial chronicler.

During Emperor Xianzong's reign In summer 808, by which time Li Chun was emperor (as Emperor Xianzong), a special imperial examination was held for examinees to submit criticism of the government. Niu Sengru, Huangfu Shi , and Li Zongmin were considered to have written criticisms that were particularly on point and were ranked the highest by the officials in charge of grading, Yang Yuling and Wei Guanzhi. Initially, Emperor Xianzong was set to give commissions to Niu, Huangfu, and Li Zongmin, but the chancellor Li Jifu was offended by the criticism. As Wang Ya and fellow imperial scholar Pei Ji were the reviewers of the examination, and Huangfu was Wang's nephew, he accused Pei and Wang of conflict of interest. Due to Li Jifu's accusations, Pei and Wang were stripped of their imperial scholar status and both demoted—with Wang being made Duguan Yuanwailang , a low-level official at the ministry of justice (刑部, Xingbu), and subsequently being sent out of the capital to serve as the military advisor to the prefect of Guo Prefecture (虢州, in modern Sanmenxia, Henan). Yang and Wei were also demoted out of the capital Chang'an. He was subsequently further made the prefect of Yuan Prefecture (袁州, in modern Yichun, Jiangxi).

However, it was said that Emperor Xianzong missed Wang, and Wang was eventually recalled to serve as Bingbu Yuanwailang , a low-level official at the ministry of defense (兵部, Bingbu), and put in charge of drafting edicts. He was then again made imperial scholar as well as deputy minister of public works (工部侍郎, Gongbu Shilang). He was also created the Baron of Qingyuan. It was said that Wang was a talented writer and many of the edicts that had beautiful language during the reigns of Emperors Dezong and Xianzong were drafted by Wang. As Wang did not engage in partisanship, Emperor Xianzong often consulted with him. In 817, there was an occasion when Emperor Xianzong wanted to make one of his close associates, Zhang Su , a high-level consultant, drawing a strenuous objection from the chancellor Li Fengji—and this was partially responsible for Emperor Xianzong's removing Li Fengji and making him a military governor (jiedushi). Wang and fellow chancellor Cui Qun also objected to Zhang's commission, but eventually allowed Zhang to serve as acting consultant.

In 818, Wang was removed from his chancellor position and made the deputy minister of defense (兵部侍郎, Bingbu Shilang), Wang submitted a petition suggesting that a request be made to the "northern barbarians"probably referring to the generally friendly Uyghur Khaganaterequesting that they attack the "western barbarians" (i.e. Tufan) and offering great rewards if they did so. Emperor Muzong did not respond to Wang's suggestion. Wang Ya was made the deputy minister of census (戶部侍郎, Hubu Shilang) but also continued to serve as chief imperial censor, as well as the director of the salt and iron monopolies and grain supply for the Chang'an region. He was soon made the minister of rites (禮部尚書, Libu Shangshu) and continued to serve as the director of the monopolies and supply. In 826, he was made the military governor of Shannan West Circuit (山南西道, headquartered in modern Hanzhong, Shaanxi), as well as its capital Xingyuan Municipality . He was also created the Duke of Dai.

Meanwhile, without Wang's knowledge, Li Zhongyan (whose name had been changed to Li Xun by this point), Zheng, and Emperor Wenzong had been plotting to massacre the eunuchs in the palace, as Emperor Wenzong had feared the lead eunuchs' power. On December 14, 835 —Li Xun had planned to have soldiers under his associates Guo Xingyu , Wang Fan , Luo Liyan , Han Yue , and Li Xiaoben trap the eunuchs and massacre them. However, the powerful eunuch Qiu Shiliang discovered the plot and took control of Emperor Wenzong, and the eunuchs then had the Shence Army kill or arrest Li Xun's and Zheng's associates. Meanwhile, Wang Ya and the other chancellors were set to have lunch together at the office of the chancellors, when they received report that the Shence Army soldiers were killing everyone in their paths. The chancellors and the other officials fled on foot. Wang Ya was soon captured and taken to the Left Shence Army headquarters. He was tortured, and, unable to bear the pain, falsely stated that he and Li Xun had planned a coup to overthrow Emperor Wenzong and make Zheng emperor.

Posthumous rehabilitation In 854, then-ruling Emperor Xuānzong (Emperor Muzong's brother) had Wang Ya and the other officials who died in the Ganlu Incident, except for Li Xun and Zheng Zhu, posthumously rehabilitated. Later, during the reign of Emperor Xuānzong's grandson Emperor Zhaozong, Wang's titles were further restored.

Issue Wang Mengjian Wang Zhongxiang