Wang Mou

Historical Record

Wang Mou, courtesy name Yuantai, was a native of Hanjia. He was renowned for his dignified bearing and lofty integrity. During Liu Zhang's rule over Yi Province, Wang Mou once served as Grand Administrator of Ba Commandery. Afterward he was recalled to the provincial office to serve as Attendant Officer of the Headquarters. When Liu Bei pacified Yi Province and took the post of Governor of Yi Province himself, Wang Mou was appointed Aide-de-Camp. When Liu Bei proclaimed himself King of Hanzhong, he gave important posts to the senior gentlemen of the Jing-Chu region, appointing Lai Gong of Lingling as Chamberlain for Ceremonials, Huang Zhu of Nanyang as Chamberlain for the Imperial Insignia, and Wang Mou as Privy Treasurer. In the early Jianxing years, Wang Mou was granted the rank of Marquis Within the Passes. Later he succeeded Lai Gong's post, being promoted to Chamberlain for Ceremonials. ^c:5956

Although Wang Mou ranked among high officials, the histories record his specific deeds only sketchily, and so were unable to give him a biography of his own. Lai Gong and Huang Zhu, his contemporaries, faced the same situation. Yet from the appraisals of later generations we can glimpse the esteem Wang Mou enjoyed in his time. Lai Gong's son Lai Hong once served as a Clerk of the Western Bureau of the Chancellor's office, accompanying Zhuge Liang in Hanzhong, and died young, to everyone's regret. Zhuge Liang felt this deeply, and once wrote to the Senior Clerk and Officer of the Resident Office Zhang Yi and to Jiang Wan, saying, "Among the clerks we have lost Lai Hong, and among the subordinate officers we have lost Yang Yong—the loss and gain to the court is great indeed," which shows Lai Hong's talent. Yang Yong was also a man of Jing Province, who once served as Grand Administrator of Ba Commandery and as Registrar to the Chancellor Zhuge Liang, later being promoted to Officer of the Eastern Bureau in charge of selecting and recommending officials; his ability too was greatly valued by Zhuge Liang. ^c:5956

Many years later, the General-in-Chief Jiang Wan once asked Zhang Xiu: "Among the elders of Hanjia there was Wang Yuantai—who now can carry on his manner?" Zhang Xiu replied: "As for one like Yuantai, there is no successor even in the whole province, let alone in my humble commandery!" This exchange fully displays the lofty standing and outstanding reputation Wang Mou held in the minds of the gentry of the time, regarded as the distinguished representative of Hanjia Commandery, his virtue and ability universally acknowledged and admired. ^c:5956

In the Novel

In *Romance of the Three Kingdoms* the record of Wang Mou is extremely brief; he is mentioned only once, in Chapter 80. ^c:5956 The novel does not give any detailed depiction of Wang Mou's life, his conduct in office, or his personal character, nor does it mention his specific posts and contributions under Liu Zhang and Liu Bei. Compared with the historical record, in which he held important posts such as Grand Administrator of Ba Commandery, Aide-de-Camp, Privy Treasurer, and Chamberlain for Ceremonials, the novel almost entirely omits these details. The novel likewise does not mention his collegial relations with Lai Gong, Huang Zhu, and others, nor the high praise of Zhuge Liang and Jiang Wan. Thus, in the novel's narrative Wang Mou is a character with almost no presence, and his historical importance and influence find no expression in the literary work. This treatment leaves Wang Mou far less vivid and three-dimensional in the minds of the novel's readers than other principal figures, and fails to display the role he played in the founding and development of the Shu Han regime.

Key Relationships

* Shu Han: Wang Mou served chiefly the Shu Han regime throughout his life. He first held office under Liu Zhang, later submitted to Liu Bei, and successively held important posts such as Aide-de-Camp, Privy Treasurer, and Chamberlain for Ceremonials—an important official of the Shu Han state. ^c:5956
* Liu Bei: After Liu Bei took control of Yi Province he appointed Wang Mou Aide-de-Camp; after proclaiming himself King of Hanzhong he appointed him Privy Treasurer, showing Liu Bei's trust in and reliance upon Wang Mou. ^c:5956
* Lai Gong: Wang Mou once succeeded Lai Gong as Chamberlain for Ceremonials. Lai Gong and Wang Mou were both senior gentlemen of Jing-Chu valued by Liu Bei, and both, for want of historical material, could not be given biographies. ^c:5956
* Huang Zhu: Together with Lai Gong and Wang Mou, Huang Zhu was a high official appointed by Liu Bei in his time as King of Hanzhong, serving as Chamberlain for the Imperial Insignia. ^c:5956
* Zhuge Liang: Although the histories do not directly record interactions between Wang Mou and Zhuge Liang, Zhuge Liang's grief over the talents of Wang Mou's contemporaries Lai Hong and Yang Yong reflects, from the side, the high Shu Han leadership's valuing of talent. As Chamberlain for Ceremonials, Wang Mou served in the same court as Zhuge Liang, so there must have been working connections between them. ^c:5956
* Jiang Wan: Jiang Wan once asked Zhang Xiu, "Among the elders of Hanjia there was Wang Yuantai—who now can carry on his manner?", showing that Jiang Wan knew Wang Mou's talent and reputation well and held him in the highest regard. ^c:5956
* Zhang Xiu: Zhang Xiu replied to Jiang Wan's question, "As for Yuantai, there is no successor in the whole province, let alone in my humble commandery!"—further confirming the lofty standing and unrivaled reputation Wang Mou held among the gentry of the time. ^c:5956

Iconic Scenes

* Appointed Aide-de-Camp after Liu Bei pacified Yi Province: This was the important moment when Wang Mou first came to the fore in Liu Bei's faction, marking his formal entry into the core leadership of the Shu Han regime and the beginning of his service to Liu Bei. ^c:5956
* Becoming Privy Treasurer after Liu Bei proclaimed himself King of Hanzhong: This appointment further raised Wang Mou's standing; the Privy Treasurer, as an important post in charge of palace affairs, shows Liu Bei's trust in and esteem for Wang Mou. ^c:5956
* Granted the rank of Marquis Within the Passes in the early Jianxing years: This was an honor for Wang Mou after the founding of Shu Han, symbolizing recognition of his contributions to the Shu Han regime. ^c:5956
* Succeeding Lai Gong as Chamberlain for Ceremonials: The Chamberlain for Ceremonials was one of the Nine Ministers, in charge of ancestral-temple rites, a position of high distinction. That Wang Mou could hold this office shows the very high political standing and reputation he enjoyed within the Shu Han regime. ^c:5956
* Jiang Wan and Zhang Xiu discussing Wang Mou: Jiang Wan's question about Wang Mou and Zhang Xiu's reply form the only scene in the histories that directly displays Wang Mou's personal reputation and influence. It clearly shows that even many years after Wang Mou's death he was still regarded as the distinguished representative of Hanjia Commandery, his virtue and ability universally acknowledged and admired, beyond all rivals. ^c:5956