Mother of Wang Jing
–260
The mother of Wei official Wang Jing was known for urging her son to abandon his career and calmly facing execution with him.
In the sources
Where the books name Mother of Wang Jing
History · vol. 9Records of the Three Kingdoms
…始經爲郡守，經母謂經曰：「汝田家子，今仕至二千石，物太過不祥，可以止矣。」…
Read the whole paragraph
清河王經亦與允俱稱冀州名士。甘露中爲尚書，坐高貴鄉公事誅。始經爲郡守，經母謂經曰：「汝田家子，今仕至二千石，物太過不祥，可以止矣。」經不能從，歷二州刺史，司隷校尉，終以致敗。〈《世語》曰：經字彥偉，初爲江夏太守。大將軍曹爽附絹二十匹令交市於吳，經不發書，棄官歸。母問歸狀，經以實對。母以經典兵馬而擅去，對送吏杖經五十，爽聞，不復罪。經爲司隷校尉，辟河內向雄爲都官從事，王業之出，不申經，竟以及難。經刑於東市，雄哭之，感動一市。刑及經母，雍州故吏皇甫晏以家財收葬焉。《漢晉春秋》曰：經被收，辭母。母顏色不變，笑而應曰：「人誰不死？往所以不止汝者，恐不得其所也。以此并命，何恨之有哉？」晉武帝太始元年詔曰：「故尚書王經，雖身陷法辟，然守志可嘉。門戶堙沒，意常愍之，其賜經孫郎中。」〉允友人同郡崔贊，亦嘗以處世太盛戒允云。〈荀綽《冀州記》曰：贊子洪，字良伯，清恪有匪躬之志，爲晉吏部尚書、大司農。〉
Novel · ch. 114Romance of the Three Kingdoms
…王經母子含笑受刑。滿城士庶，無不垂淚。後人有詩曰：
Read the whole paragraph
昭又使人收王經全家下獄。王經正在廷尉廳下，忽見縛其母至。經叩頭大哭曰：「不孝子累及慈母矣！」母大笑曰：「人誰不死？正恐不死其所耳。以此棄命，何恨之有？」次日，王經全家皆押赴東市。王經母子含笑受刑。滿城士庶，無不垂淚。後人有詩曰：
On the boards
Where this person ranks on each board.
The Mother of Wang Jing was the mother of the Wei official Wang Jing and appears in Chapter 114 of Romance of the Three Kingdoms.
Deeds
According to historical records, when Wang Jing first became a commandery governor, she advised him that, though born to a farming family, he had already risen to a salary of two thousand dan; his career had advanced so far that continuing might bring misfortune, and he should stop there. Wang Jing did not heed her. He later served successively as governor of two provinces and Sili Commandant, and was executed over the affair of the Prince of Gaogui.
Historical records say that when Wang Jing was arrested, he took leave of his mother. Her expression remained unchanged, and she said with a smile that everyone must die someday. She had not urged him to stop earlier because she feared he might die without a fitting cause; now that mother and son would go to their deaths together, what was there to regret?
(Romance of the Three Kingdoms) When Wang Jing was taken into custody and imprisoned, the Mother of Wang Jing was bound and brought beneath the court hall of the Minister of Justice. She smiled and said that everyone must die someday, and what mattered was dying for a worthy cause. The next day, mother and son went smiling to the eastern marketplace to be executed.
Relationships
- Mother of Wang Jing
- Went to their execution together with Wang Jing (historical records say his mother was executed when he was; the novel depicts mother and son going together to the eastern marketplace)
Lines
- 演 ch.114 §18→ Wang Jing
「人誰不死？正恐不死其所耳。以此棄命，何恨之有？」
- Family
- Enemies
Continue
Wang Jing
Child