Editing Wang Pi

{{Short description|Tang Chinese calligrapher and politician during the reign of Shunzong}}
{{About|the Tang dynasty official|the Cao Wei philosopher and official|Wang Bi}}

'''Wang Pi''' ({{lang-zh|王伾}}; died 805?<ref>The ''[[Zizhi Tongjian]]'' stated that Wang Pi died soon after he was exiled late in 805, and then stated that it was not until 806 that [[Wang Shuwen]] was forced to commit suicide, implying that Wang Pi died before 806, but was not completely clear that it was in fact in 805 that Wang Pi died.  See ''Zizhi Tongjian'', [[:zh:s:資治通鑑/卷236|vol. 236]].</ref>) was a Chinese [[Chinese calligraphy|calligrapher]] and politician of the [[Tang dynasty]], who was a close associate of Emperor [[Emperor Shunzong of Tang|Shunzong]] (Li Song). He, along with his ally [[Wang Shuwen]], was powerful during Emperor Shunzong's brief reign in 805, but soon lost power and died in exile.

== Background and service under Li Song as crown prince ==
It is not known when Wang Pi was born, but it is known that his family was from Hang Prefecture (杭州, in modern [[Hangzhou]], [[Zhejiang]]). He was at some point made a reserve official at Hanlin Institute (翰林院), where imperial scholars gathered, and later made a member of the staff of Li Song—then [[crown prince]] under his father [[Emperor Dezong of Tang|Emperor Dezong]].<ref name=BT135>''[[Old Book of Tang]]'', [http://www.sidneyluo.net/a/a16/135.htm vol. 135].</ref> It was said that he became favored by Li Song because of his abilities in [[Chinese calligraphy|calligraphy]], and he became a close associate of Li Song's, having easy access to Li Song's palace and often spending time with Li Song in leisure activities. He and another close associate of Li Song's, [[Wang Shuwen]], became friends and allies.<ref name=ZZTJ236>''[[Zizhi Tongjian]]'', [[:zh:s:資治通鑑/卷236|vol. 236]].</ref>

== During Emperor Shunzong's reign ==
In late 804, Li Song suffered a debilitating [[stroke]] that left him partially paralyzed and unable to speak. When Emperor Dezong died on February 25, 805,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sinica.edu.tw/ftms-bin/kiwi1/luso.sh?lstype=2&dyna=%AD%F0&king=%BCw%A9v&reign=%ADs%A4%B8&yy=21&ycanzi=&mm=1&dd=&dcanzi=%AC%D1%A4x|title = 中央研究院}}</ref> there were initially some [[Eunuch (court official)|eunuchs]] who suggested that someone else should succeed Emperor Dezong, but at the strong advocacy of the imperial scholar Wei Cigong (衛次公), Li Song's succession was not further questioned despite his illness. To show that he was still not completely incapacitated, Li Song was forced to personally show himself to the imperial guards, and he took the throne (as Emperor Shunzong).<ref name=ZZTJ236/>

However, Emperor Shunzong remained seriously ill, and he was often attended to only by the eunuch Li Zhongyan (李忠言) and his [[concubine]] [[Consort Niu]]. Much of the decisions on important matters of state were entrusted to Wang Pi and Wang Shuwen, both of whom were named imperial scholar and was largely making decisions at the Hanlin Institute. Under Wang Shuwen's recommendation, [[Wei Zhiyi]] was made a [[chancellor of the Tang dynasty|chancellor]], and it was said that Wei, Wang Shuwen, Wang Pi, Li Zhongyan, and Consort Niu formed a group of decision makers. It was said that much authority were also delegated to Han Tai (韓泰), [[Liu Zongyuan]], and [[Liu Yuxi]], and that Wang Shuwen was effectively the leader. His associates were also said to be praising each other and comparing each other to such great historical figures as [[Yi Yin]], the [[Duke of Zhou]], [[Guan Zhong]], and [[Zhuge Liang]]. Many officials were being promoted and demoted based on their recommendations. Wang Pi also received the office of ''Zuo Sanqi Changshi'' (左散騎常侍), a high-level consultant at the examination bureau of government (門下省, ''Menxia Sheng'').<ref name=ZZTJ236/>

Traditional historical accounts painted an unflattering picture of Wang Pi—describing him as ugly in appearance, lacking ambitions in accomplishment, and speaking in [[Wu Chinese|Wu]] tongue. It was said that Wang Pi was taking a large amount of bribes, and that his house had no closets or regular chests, but a single large chest in which he stored his treasure; at night, he and his wife would sleep on it.<ref name=ZZTJ236/>

In summer 805, when the powerful eunuch Ju Wenzhen (俱文珍) had Wang Shuwen technically promoted—to be the deputy minister of census—but removed from the post of imperial scholar, thus disallowing him from attending to matters of state at Hanlin Institute—Wang Pi interceded with Emperor Shunzong on Wang Shuwen's behalf, and Wang Shuwen was allowed to visit Hanlin Institute once every three to five days. Soon, however, Wang Shuwen's mother died, and he was forced to leave governmental service to observe a mourning period. Left without his main ally, it was said that Wang Pi became panicked, and he made repeated petitions to have Wang Shuwen recalled to government service to be chancellor, to no avail. In fall 805, knowing that he and his allies were near defeat, Wang Pi claimed to have suffered a stroke and no longer attended to governmental matters.<ref name=ZZTJ236/>

== Death ==
Late in 805, Emperor Shunzong yielded the throne to his son [[Emperor Xianzong of Tang|Li Chun]] the Crown Prince (as Emperor Xianzong). Even before he was formally enthroned, Emperor Xianzong immediately had Wang Shuwen and Wang Pi exiled, on September 2<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sinica.edu.tw/ftms-bin/kiwi1/luso.sh?lstype=2&dyna=%AD%F0&king=%B6%B6%A9v&reign=%A5%C3%ADs&yy=1&ycanzi=&mm=8&dd=&dcanzi=%A4%D0%B1G|title=中央研究院}}</ref>—in Wang Pi's case, to be the military advisor to the prefect of Kai Prefecture (開州, in modern [[Chongqing]]). It was said that Wang Pi soon died in exile, and it was implied that that was later in 805.<ref name=ZZTJ236/>

== Notes and references ==
{{Reflist}}
* ''[[Old Book of Tang]]'', [http://www.sidneyluo.net/a/a16/135.htm vol. 135].
* ''[[New Book of Tang]]'', [http://www.sidneyluo.net/a/a17/168.htm vol. 168].
* ''[[Zizhi Tongjian]]'', [[:zh:s:資治通鑑/卷236|vol. 236]].

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Wang, Pi}}
[[Category:805 deaths]]
[[Category:8th-century births]]
[[Category:8th-century Chinese calligraphers]]
[[Category:Artists from Hangzhou]]
[[Category:Tang dynasty calligraphers]]
[[Category:Tang dynasty government officials]]
[[Category:Politicians from Hangzhou]]
[[Category:Chinese reformers]]