Wang Qinruo

Wang Qinruo (王欽若)
Grand Councilor of the Song dynasty
In office August 28, 1017 – July 13, 1019
Monarch	Emperor Zhenzong
In office September 22, 1023 – April 27, 1024[1]
Monarch	Emperor Renzong
Personal details
Born	962 or January 963[2] Xinyu, Southern Tang
Died	December 22, 1025(1025-12-22) (aged 62–63)[3] Kaifeng, Song dynasty
Spouse	Lady Li (李)
Children	Wang Congyi (王從益), son Wang Qingzhi (王慶之), son 2 daughters
Parent	Wang Zhonghua (王仲華) (father)
Posthumous name	Wenmu (文穆)

Wang Qinruo
Traditional Chinese	王欽若
Simplified Chinese	王钦若
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Wáng Qīnruò Wade–Giles Wang^2 Ch'in^1-jo^4
Wang Dingguo
Traditional Chinese	王定國
Simplified Chinese	王定国
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Wáng Dìngguó

In this Chinese name, the family name is Wang.

Wang Qinruo (c. 962 – 22 December 1025), courtesy name Dingguo, was an official in China's Northern Song dynasty. He was the chancellor from 1017 to 1019 during Emperor Zhenzong's reign and from 1023 to 1025 during Emperor Renzong's reign.

Wang Qinruo led the compilation of Prime Tortoise of the Record Bureau, an important encyclopedia.

Wang Qinruo had a few very unpopular proposals, including moving the capital to southern China. Moreover, he appeared to have a personal vendetta against the upright official Kou Zhun and tried hard to have the latter demoted. History of Song recorded that Emperor Renzong believed Wang Qinruo treacherous, and that during his time Wang Qinruo was nicknamed by the population as one of the "Five Devils", along with Ding Wei, Lin Te (林特), Chen Pengnian (陳彭年) and Liu Chenggui (劉承珪).

In fiction

In the popular legends of Generals of the Yang Family, the antagonist Wang Qin (王欽) is based on Wang Qinruo. In some versions Wang Qin is even a spy from the Liao dynasty.

References

1. Song Shi, ch. 210.
2. Song Shi, ch. 283.
3. Xu Zizhi Tongjian Changbian, ch. 103.

• Toqto'a; et al., eds. (1345). Song Shi [History of Song] (in Chinese).
• Li Tao (1183). Xu Zizhi Tongjian Changbian [Extended Continuation to Zizhi Tongjian] (in Chinese).