Zhongxuan

Wang can

Wang can (177-217, February 17) was named Zhongxuan. Shanyang County Gaoping County (now Weishan County, Shandong Province, two towns) people. At the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, he was a writer and an official, one of the seven sons of Jian'an, the great grandson of Wang Gong, a Taiwei, and the grandson of Wang Chang, a Sikong.

Wang can had a talent since he was young, which was appreciated by scholar Cai Yong. Situ wanted to recruit him to be the servant of Huangmen. Because of the chaos in Chang'an, Wang can didn't go to his post. He chose to go south to depend on Liu Biao, a mu in Jingzhou, but he was not valued by Liu Biao. In 208, in the 13th year of Jian'an, Cao Cao, the prime minister, went south to Jingzhou. Liu Cong, the son of Liu Biao, surrendered to Jingzhou. Wang can also belonged to Cao Cao, who won the trust of Cao's father and son and was granted the title of Marquis of Guannei. In 213, the kingdom of Wei was established, and Wang can served as a servant. In the 22nd year of Jian'an (216), Cao Cao went south to conquer Sun Quan and died on the way to the north. He was 41 years old.

Wang Canshan is a man of letters. His poems and Fu are the crown of the seven sons of Jian'an, and he is also called "King Cao" together with Cao Zhi. Wang can wrote nearly 60 poems, Fu, Lun and Yi in the records of heroes and the Three Kingdoms, and 11 volumes in the book of Sui. Zhang Pu of Ming Dynasty compiled Wang Shi Zhong Ji.

Source: ye Xiong's biography of characters in the romance of the Three Kingdoms

Life of the characters

Come from a famous family

Wang can was born in a well-known family. His great grandfather, Gong, was a Taiwei when Emperor Shun was in the Han Dynasty; his grandfather, Wang Chang, was a famous scholar when Emperor Ling was in the Han Dynasty. Both of them were once in the rank of Sangong. Wang Qian, Wang can's father, was a long history of general He Jin.

In 191, Emperor Xian of Han Dynasty was controlled by Dong Zhuo and moved to Chang'an. Wang can also went with him. When Cai Yong, a famous scholar and general of Zuo Zhonglang at that time, saw Wang can, he thought he was a genius. At that time, Cai Yong was famous for his talent and learning, and was respected by Manchu officials. In front of Cai Yong's house, there were often cars and horses filling the alleys, and his living room was full of guests. One day, when Cai Yong heard that Wang can was asking for a meeting outside the door, he rushed out to meet him, even though his shoes were on. As soon as Wang can came in, because he was young and short, everyone in the room was surprised. Cai Yong said: "this is Wang can, the grandson of Prince Sikong (Wang Chang). He is really a wizard, which makes me feel inferior. All the books and articles in my family should be given to him. "

be frustrated for all one 's talent

In 193, Wang can, who was 17 years old, was recruited by situ and was called to be the servant of Huangmen. Because of the chaos in Chang'an, Wang can didn't go to his post. Soon, he went to Jingzhou to take refuge with his fellow townsman, Liu Biao, who lived in Jingzhou. Liu Biao saw that he was not good-looking, weak and informal, so he didn't pay much attention to him.

In the third year of Jian'an (198), Zhang Xian, the prefect of Changsha, followed Huan Jie's advice and betrayed Liu Biao with the soldiers of Changsha, Lingling and Guiyang. In order to publicize this expedition, Wang can wrote an article "three auxiliary theories" to show that his teacher is famous. Among them, it was written: "Changsha is an unruly city and dares to make disturbances and disobeys the law. I can see it, but hull is angry, and he goes up to fight and down to fight, and then he goes up and down to fight violently." He stated that the purpose of using troops was to "eliminate violence".

In the seventh year of Jian'an (202), two years after the Guandu war, Yuan Shao died. His two sons, Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang, were brothers. In order to persuade Wang can, Liu Biao drafted "admonishing Yuan Tan Shu for Liu Jingzhou" and "admonishing yuan Shang Shu for Liu Jingzhou". In the book of Yuan Yu's words, Zhang Yu's words should be combined with his words.

Subordinate to Cao Cao

In 208, after Liu Biao died, Wang Canli urged Liu Cong, Liu Biao's son, to join Cao Cao. After Jingzhou was pacified, Cao Cao appointed him as prime minister, and granted him the title of Marquis of Guannei. Once, Cao Cao held a banquet at the water side of the Han Dynasty to entertain officials. Wang can toasted Cao Cao and said, "today, Yuan Shao is rising in Hebei Province, relying on a large number of troops and generals, and is determined to win the world. However, although he cherishes the talents, he can't reuse them. Therefore, those talents eventually leave him. Liu Biao, who lived in Jingchu, took his time and thought he could imitate King Wen of Zhou Dynasty. Liu Biao was not good at appointing them. As a result, no one helped him when the country was in danger. Ming Gong, when you pacified Jizhou, you were busy reorganizing Jizhou's army at the beginning of your departure. You collected local heroes and used them to their own advantage. Therefore, you were able to dominate the world. When the Jiang and Han Dynasties were pacified, they called on the talented people in this area to occupy their own positions, so that the world would return to their hearts, watch the wind, use both civil and martial arts, and try their best. These are all things that the founding monarchs of the Xia, Shang and Zhou dynasties could do! " Later, Wang can was transferred to the army to offer sacrifices.

Wei Wang Shizhong

In 213, after the establishment of the kingdom of Wei, Wang can, together with heqia, weiqi and Duxi, was appointed as a servant. Because of his erudition, Wang can could always answer the questions like a flow. At that time, the old etiquette system was exhausted and needed to be reformulated. Wang can and Wei Qi were responsible for getting rid of the old and making new regulations. According to the records of decisionary notes, the jade pendant disappeared in the end of Han Dynasty. But Wang can recognized the old Pei and made it again. Jade pendants in the Western Jin Dynasty were all imitated by Wang can.

In Cao Cao's shogunate, Wang can was not only appreciated and valued, but also had a close relationship with Cao Pi and Cao Zhi. Cao Pi and Cao Zhi respected Wang can very much, and there were many poems and Fu between them.

According to Dian Lue, Wang can was talented and good at debating. At that time, Zhong Yao, Wang Lang and others were all ministers of the kingdom of Wei, but when they arrived at the court, they were all unprepared.

In the 21st year of Jian'an (216), Wang can went south with Cao Cao to invade Sun Quan.

Donkeys sing in mourning

In 217, Wang can died on the way back to Yecheng at the age of 41. Cao Pi led many scholars to bury him. In order to express his attachment to Wang can, Cao Pi said to Wang can's friends: "Zhong Xuan likes to hear donkey barking most. Let's learn donkey barking once and see him off." So the sound of donkeys started. This is the famous funeral of donkeys. After the funeral, Cao Zhi wrote Wang Zhong Xuan Lei, which shows that the friendship between Cao Pi and Cao Zhi and Wang can is really extraordinary.

Main impact

literature

In literature, Wang can, together with Kong Rong, Xu Gan, Chen Lin, Ruan Yu, Ying Yu and Liu Zhen, is known as the "seven sons of Jian'an". Wang can was not only one of the seven sons, but also one of the most successful. He was also called "Cao Wang" together with Cao Zhi. Liu Xie, a literary critic of the Liang Dynasty, praised Wang can as "the crown of seven sons" in his literary mind and Carving Dragons. At the same time, because of Wang can's special experience and contribution, he became an outstanding shogunate in ancient China.

There are more than 20 pieces of Wang can's Fu, most of which are Sao style. The most popular one is Denglou Fu, which was written during the period of living in Jingzhou. It abandons the extravagant traditional writing method of Han Fu, worries about the way of the world, cherishes the memory of hometown, and warmly hopes for the arrival of peaceful and prosperous times with simple and bright sentences; it also expresses strong feelings for its own bumpy experience. One of its artistic features is the close combination of scenery and lyric in Fu. In the development of lyric ode, this work has an important position. Wang can's prose is more successful in his "admonishing Yuan Tan Shu for Liu Jingzhou" and "admonishing yuan Shang Shu for Liu Jingzhou".

Wang can surrendered to Cao Cao in the 13th year of Jian'an. Before that, his works recorded the war at the end of Han Dynasty, or wrote his feelings of exile in Jingzhou, such as the poem of seven sorrows. After he surrendered to Cao Cao, he mainly felt the feeling of going to war with Cao Cao. These poems not only reflected the desolation and devastation of the war at the end of Han Dynasty, but also praised Cao Cao's wisdom and martial arts, but also expressed his pursuit With Cao Cao's will to serve the country.

In accordance with his official career, Wang can's literary activities can be divided into two periods: the former and the latter. The dividing line is that Wang can belonged to Cao Cao in the 13th year of Jian'an. In his early years, he mainly lived in Jingzhou, experienced the disaster of war, and could not display his ambition for a long time.

In the later period of Cao Cao's curtain, on the one hand, he was inspired by the situation that the vast areas of the north had been unified, on the other hand, he also aroused the confidence of making contributions because he held an important official position, so the keynote of his creation changed to exciting and high spirited. For example, the five poems of joining the army written by Cao Cao in his western expedition to Guanyou and his eastern expedition to Sun Quan praise Cao's expedition and express the author's enthusiasm for joining the army and making contributions.

library

Wang can's collection of books was mainly given by Cai Yong. It is said that he paid a visit to Cai Yong. Cai Yong "welcomed it with his feet down" and said that "we should give all the books and articles of our family.". After his death, Cai Yong fulfilled his promise and presented his collection of more than 6000 volumes to Wang can. In his old age, his collection of books reached ten thousand volumes.

Historical evaluation

Cai Yong: this prince and grandson have different talents. I'm not as good as him.

Cao Pi: today's literati, including Kong Rong of the state of Lu, Chen Lin of Guangling, Wang can of Shanyang, Xu Gan of Beihai, Chen liuruan, Ying Yu of Runan, Liu Zhen of Dongping, and seven sons of Si, have nothing left in their studies or in their speeches. Charm is good at Ci Fu. When you're dry, you can't be charmed. For example, Zhang Heng and Cai Yong were not able to describe the early Zheng, climbing the tower, Huaifu and Zhengsi of can, and xuanape, Liuzhe, yuanfan and Jufu of GaN.

Cao Zhi: 1. It has both virtue and skill. Xinjiang records and hears, praises and whispers. Wen Ruo Chunhua, Si Ruo Quanyong. You can chant your speech and write it down. What is not harmonious, what art is not idle. ② In the old days, Zhongxuan walked alone in the south of Han Dynasty, Kong Zhang's eagle was flying in Heshuo, Wei Chang was good at being famous in Qingtu, and his official work was vibrating algae in the corner of the sea,

Chinese PinYin : Zhong Xuan