Wang Yan 王掞

WANG Shan 王掞 (T. 藻儒, H. 顓庵), Feb. 3, 1645–1728, official, the eighth son of Wang Shih-min [q.v.], was a native of T'ai-ts'ang, Kiangsu. Taking his chin-shih in 1670, he was selected a bachelor of the Hanlin Academy and later was given the rank of compiler. He served for a term as commissioner of education of Chekiang (1684–87) and several times as examiner in provincial examinations. After several promotions he was appointed junior vice-president of the Board of Revenue (1694) and thereafter held the following posts: a vice-president of the Board of Revenue (1698–99), and of the Board of Civil Offices (1699–1704); president of the Board of Punishments (1704–08), of the Board of Works (1708–10), of the Board of War (1710) and of the Board of Ceremonies (1711–12); and Grand Secretary (1712–23).

In 1712, a few months after Wang Shan became Grand Secretary, he witnessed the imprisonment of Yin-jêng [q.v.], the one-time Heir Apparent to the throne. Five years later he memorialized Emperor Shêng-tsu on the importance of designating a successor to Yin-jêng. The Emperor was displeased, but did not make an issue of the matter. Later in the same year (1717) eight censors jointly memorialized the throne to the same effect. The Emperor, suspecting them of having formed a coalition with Wang Shan at their head, reprimanded them. In 1721, in a memorial congratulating the Emperor on the sixtieth year of his reign, Wang Shan, still undaunted, entreated the Emperor to appoint an Heir Apparent. Soon afterwards eleven censors importuned the Emperor on the same subject, three of whom had done so four years previously. The Emperor, now highly incensed, accused Wang of definitely creating a faction to effect the release and restoration of Yin-jêng as Heir Apparent, in the hope that when the latter became Emperor he would elevate them all to positions of power and responsibility. Ten of the censors were banished, Wang was imprisoned forthwith, but was soon released. Had it not been for his age, he would have been banished to Sining to assist the armies that were fighting the Eleuths. His son, Wang I-ch'ing 王奕清 (T. 幼芬, 拙園), was however sent in his stead. Another son, Wang I-hung 王奕鴻 (T. 樹先, chin-shih of 1709, d. 1754?, age 82 sui), voluntarily resigned his post as intendant of a circuit in Hunan to accompany and console his brother. In 1722 Wang Shan was pardoned and reinstated as Grand Secretary, but he displeased the succeeding Emperor Shih-tsung by requesting to retire shortly after the latter ascended the throne. Although the request was granted (1723), he was reprimanded and was forbidden to return to his home. Two years later, when Nien Kêng-yao [q.v.] was indicted, Wang Shan was charged with having encouraged his sons, I-ch'ing and I-hung, who were subordinates to Nien, to seek the latter's approbation. To signify his displeasure, the Emperor decreed that the two sons be banished still farther into western Mongolia, thus depriving Wang himself of the pleasure of seeing them before he died. The two brothers were recalled from exile when the succeeding Emperor Kao-tsung ascended the throne. Wang I-hung served as intendant of the Ch'uan-tung circuit in Szechwan from 1737 to 1739 and then retired.

The family of Wang Shan was distinguished for producing two famous Grand Secretaries, the first one being his great-grandfather, Wang Hsi-chüeh (see under Wang Shih-min). Several brothers and nephews of Wang Shan were painters or poets (see under Wang Yüan-ch'i). Wang Shan himself is credited with having left a collection of memorials, entitled 西田奏議 Hsi-t'ien tsou-i, and a collection of literary works, entitled Hsi-t'ien chi (集), in 4 chüan. The existence of both works is questionable.

[1/292/1a; 3/11/24a; Tai-ts'ang chou-chih (1919) 20/1la, passim; Wang Ch'ang [q.v.], Hu-hai wên chuan 33/7b; 康熙建儲案 K'ang-hsi chien-ch'u an in Wên-hsien ts'ung-pien (see bibl. under Dorgon) no. 4; Tung-hua lu, K'ang-hsi 56:11; 60:3; 3/135/27a; Chao-lien [q.v.], Hsiao-t'ing tsa-lu 4/9b.]

Fang Chao-ying

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王掞，字藻儒，江南太倉人，明大學士錫爵[%E6%9B%BE]孫。康熙九年進士，選庶吉士，授編修，為掌院學士熊賜履所器。遷左贊善，充日講起居注官。以病告八年，起右贊善。提督浙江學政，嚴剔積弊，所拔多宿學寒畯。龍泉知縣茅國璽以印揭薦武童，掞疏劾，國璽坐譴，別疏陳剔除積弊，報聞。累遷侍讀學士。三十年，超擢內閣學士。三十三年，遷戶部侍郎，直經筵。三十八年，調吏部，禁革臨選駁查、臨掣買籤諸弊，銓政以肅。偕尚書范承勳、王鴻緒督修高家堰河工。

四十三年，擢刑部尚書。刑部奏讞無漢字供狀，掞言：「本朝官制，兼設滿、漢，欲其彼此參詳。今獄詞不錄漢語，是非曲直，漢司官何由知之？若隨聲畫諾，幾成虛設。嗣後定讞，當滿、漢稿並具。」詔報可，著為令。累歷工、兵、禮諸部，務總紀綱，持大體。五十一年，授文淵閣大學士，兼禮部尚書，直經筵如故。五十二年，典會試。其冬，以疾疏辭閣務，溫旨慰留。越年春，疾愈，仍入直。孝惠章皇后祔太廟，議者欲祔於孝康章皇后之次，掞曰：「孝康章皇后雖母以子貴，然孝惠章皇后，章皇帝嫡配也，上聖孝格天。曩者太皇太后祔廟時，不以躋孝端文皇后之上，今肯以孝康章皇后躋孝惠章皇后上乎？」禮部不從，上果以為非，令改正。

時上春秋高，皇太子允礽既廢，儲位未定。掞年七十餘，自念受恩深，又以其[%E6%9B%BE]祖錫爵在明神宗朝，以建儲事受惡名，欲幹其蠱。五十六年，密奏請建儲，疏入，留中。是年冬，御史陳嘉猷等八人復以為言，上不悅，遂并發掞疏，命內閣議處。忌掞者欲置重典，掞止宮門外不敢入。上顧左右，問：「王掞何在？」李光地奏掞待罪宮門。上曰：「王掞言甚是，但不宜令御史同奏，蹈明季惡習。汝等票擬處分太重，可速召其來。」掞聞命趨入，免冠謝。上招掞跪御榻前，語良久，祕，人不能知。

六十年春，群臣請賀萬壽，上勿許。掞復疏前事，請釋二阿哥，語加激切。既而御史陶彝等十二人連名入奏，上疑出掞意，大怒，召諸王大臣，降旨責掞植黨希榮，且謂：「錫爵在明神宗時，力奏建儲，泰昌在位，未及數月，天啟庸懦，天下大亂，至愍帝而不能守。明之亡，錫爵不能辭其罪。掞以朕為神宗乎？朕初無誅大臣之意，大臣自取其死，朕亦無如何。」令王大臣傳旨詰掞，令回奏。時舉朝失色，無敢與筆硯者。掞就宮門階石上裂紙，以唾濡墨，奏言：「臣伏見宋仁宗為一代賢君，而晚年立儲猶豫，其時名臣如范鎮、包拯等，皆交章切諫，鬚髮為白。臣愚，信書太篤，妄思效法古人，實未嘗妄嗾臺臣共為此奏。」奏上，越五日，詔緩議罪，與諸御史俱赴西陲軍前效力。因掞年老，責其子奕清代往，為父贖罪。先是，掞嘗密奏請減蘇、松浮糧，言至剴切，疏久留中。至是忤旨，乃與建儲奏疏一並擲還。是年冬，上自熱河還京師。掞迎駕石槽，上望見，遣內侍慰問。六十一年元旦，諸大臣表賀，未列掞名，上發表命列名以進。翌日，賜宴太和殿，再召見西煖閣，賜坐，慰諭有加。尋起原官，視事如故。

雍正元年，以老乞休，世宗降旨褒嘉，以原官致仕，仍留京師備顧問。三年，上諭閣臣云：「王掞向人言，曾在聖祖前奏免蘇、松浮糧，未蒙允行。朕查閱宮中並無此奏。」因責掞藉事沽名，並涉其子奕清、奕鴻諂附年羹堯，目為姦巧，乃遣奕鴻與奕清同在軍前效力。六年，掞卒，年八十四。乾隆二年，奕清始請卹於朝，賜祭葬如制。

奕清，字幼芬。康熙三十年進士，選庶吉士。歷官詹事。代父赴軍，歷駐忒斯、阿達拖羅海。 奕清體羸善病，處之晏然。雍正四年，命赴阿爾泰坐臺。又十年，乾隆元年，召還，仍以詹事管少詹事。乞假葬父，尋卒。

奕鴻，字樹先。康熙四十八年進士，授戶部主事。歷湖南驛鹽、糧儲道。奕清赴軍，奕鴻盡斥其產與俱。後命赴烏里雅蘇臺效力。居邊十年，與奕清同釋還，官四川川東道。引疾歸，卒。