Background

Wang Jin was born in 700, during the reign of Wu Zetian. His family was originally from Wang clan of Taiyuan, but by the time of Wang Jin was living at Hezhong (河中, in modern Yuncheng, Shanxi). His great-great-grandfather Wang Ruxian (王儒賢), great-grandfather Wang Zhijie (王知節), and father Wang Chulian (王處廉) all served as military advisors to prefectural prefects, while his grandfather Wang Zhou (王冑) served as a low-level official at the ministry of worship. He had at least five brothers – older brother Wang Wei and younger brothers Wang Chan (王繟), Wang Hong (王紘), and Wang Dan (王紞).

Wang Jin was said to be studious in his youth, and both he and Wang Wei – who would eventually become a well-renowned poet – were both known for their literary talents. Wang Jin passed two special imperial examinations – one for poor provincial scholars, and one for scholars with literary talent.

Early career as imperial official

After passing the imperial examinations, Wang Jin successively served as Shiyushi (侍御史), a low-level imperial censor, and a low-level official at the ministry of defense (武部, Wubu). After the general An Lushan rebelled in 755, Wang was selected to be the deputy mayor of Taiyuan Municipality, assisting the general Li Guangbi in defending Taiyuan. It was said that his strategies greatly helped in the defense. During the rebellion (known as the Anshi Rebellion), Wang Wei was captured by the rebels and forced to assume an official post in the rebel state of Yan. After the Anshi Rebellion was largely quelled, Wang Wei was indicted and set to be punished. Wang Jin offered to resign in exchange for his brother's being spared. Wang Wei was then spared, but Wang Jin was only reduced in rank.

Sometime thereafter, Wang Jin was recalled to the capital Chang'an to serve as the principal of the imperial university (國子祭酒, Guozi Jijiu). He later successively served as the mayor of Fengxiang Municipality (鳳翔, in modern Baoji, Shaanxi), the deputy minister of public works (工部侍郎, Gongbu Shilang), and Zuo Sanqi Changshi (左散騎常侍), a high-level consultant at the legislative bureau of government (中書省, Zhongshu Sheng). When then-reigning Emperor Suzong's father Emperor Xuanzong, then Taishang Huang (retired emperor) died in 762, Wang was put in charge of drafting the official mourning text for Emperor Xuanzong, and the work was considered well written. Thereafter, he was made the deputy minister of defense (兵部侍郎, Bingbu Shilang). After the complete end of the Anshi Rebellion (with the death of Yan's final emperor Shi Chaoyi) in 763, Emperor Suzong's son and successor Emperor Daizong (Emperor Suzong's having died as well in 762) sent Wang to survey the former Yan territory. In 764, when the chancellors Liu Yan and Li Xian were removed, Wang and Du Hongjian replaced them — with Wang given the post of Huangmen Shilang, the deputy head of the examination bureau (門下省, Menxia Sheng); director of Taiwei Palace; and imperial scholar at Hongwen (弘文館) and Chongxian (崇賢館) Pavilions, in addition to the de facto chancellor designation of Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi.

As chancellor

In 764, when Li Guangbi, who was the deputy supreme commander of Tang forces in the Henan region (i.e., modern Henan, Shandong, and northern Jiangsu and Anhui) died, Emperor Daizong sent Wang Jin to Luoyang to replace him and to defend Luoyang. It appeared that he soon returned to Chang'an, however, as he was in Chang'an in 766 when the powerful eunuch Yu Chao'en, then the principal of the imperial university, tried to provoke Wang and his fellow chancellor Yuan Zai by, during a lecture about the I Ching, talking about how a ding (a large cooking vessel often used to symbolize chancellorship) would overturn if imbalanced. Wang was visibly incensed, but Yuan remained calm and pleasant, leading Yu to comment, "It is common for the target to get angry, but one who remains smiling needs to be paid attention to even more carefully." He was also at Chang'an in 767, when the general Guo Ziyi visited Chang'an to pay homage to the emperor, as Emperor Daizong had him, Yuan, and Yu invite Guo to feasts held in Guo's honor.

In 768, when the military governor (Jiedushi) of Lulong Circuit (盧龍, headquartered in modern Beijing), Li Huaixian, who had been ruling his circuit de facto independently from the imperial government, was assassinated by his subordinates Zhu Xicai, Zhu Ci, and Zhu Tao, Emperor Daizong tried to take back control of the circuit by sending Wang to Lulong to serve as its military governor. When Wang subsequently arrived at Lulong, Zhu Xicai formally showed him the utmost respect, but had the soldiers be on high alert and did not allow Wang to take actual reign of the circuit. Wang, knowing that he would be unable to wrest control of the circuit from Zhu Xicai, stayed in Lulong only a few days before returning to the Tang capital Chang'an. Subsequently, Zhu Xicai was made acting military governor and, at the end of 768, military governor. Later in 768, when Xin Yunjing (辛雲京) the military governor of Hedong Circuit (河東, headquartered in modern Taiyuan) died, Emperor Daizong sent Wang to Taiyuan to replace him but also had Wang retain all of his other titles. In 769, Wang offered to yield his post as deputy supreme commander and associated military titles, and Emperor Daizong agreed. Meanwhile, while he was at Hedong, the officers Wang Wuzong (王無縱) and Zhang Fengzhang both believed that since he was a civilian, they could disobey him without consequence. In fall 769, when he ordered them to lead soldiers to the western borders with the Tibetan Empire to guard against Tibetan attacks, Zhang stalled, while Wang Wuzong reentered the city of Taiyuan without permission. He executed them both, and thereafter the officers did not dare to disobey him any further. In 770, he returned to Chang'an.

Throughout the years, Yuan became the leading chancellor at court, particularly after he helped Emperor Daizong kill Yu in 770. It was said that Wang was obedient to Yuan and therefore their relationship remained well, although Wang was known for his arrogance – an arrogance that even Yuan was displeased with. At that time, the mayor of Jingzhao Municipality (京兆), which encompassed Chang'an, was Li Gan (黎幹), who was willing to criticize Yuan's governance. On one occasion, when Li was reporting to Wang, Wang insulted Li, who was from Rong Prefecture (戎州, in modern Yibin, Sichuan), by stating, "You are a southern gentleman. What do you know about the protocols at court?"

Wang Jin and his brothers were all devout Buddhists, and Wang himself ate no meat at all. After his wife Lady Li died, he made his mansion into a Buddhist temple known as Baoying Temple (寶應寺), to seek blessings for Lady Li. It was said that whenever regional governors arrived at Chang'an, he would take them on a tour of Baoying Temple in order to pressure them into donating to the temple. Due to the influence of not only Wang, but also Yuan and Du (who died in 769 – after first taking tonsure), who were both Buddhists as well, Emperor Daizong also became a devout Buddhist and came under the deep belief that if he remained devout, whatever disasters the empire suffered would not destroy the empire. He thus ordered that Buddhist monks and nuns not be punished for any reason, and that many temples be built. As a result of the emperor's and the chancellors' devotion to Buddhism, many officials became Buddhists as well, and the Old Book of Tang attributed the lack of accomplishments by the imperial administration during Emperor Daizong's reign to this.

By 777, it was said that both Yuan and Wang were exceedingly corrupt, and while Emperor Daizong tolerated them, he was becoming displeased. In 777, he had his uncle, the general Wu Cou, arrest them. They were interrogated by a panel of five officials, including Liu Yan and Li Han (李涵). Yuan was executed. Originally, Wang was to be sentenced to forced suicide, but at Liu's suggestion – pointing out that Wang was less culpable than Yuan – Emperor Daizong spared Wang's life and demoted him to be the prefect of Kuo Prefecture (括州, in modern Lishui, Zhejiang).

After demotion

In 779, Wang Jin was given the honorary position of staff member for Emperor Daizong's crown prince Li Kuo, but was not allowed to return to Chang'an; rather, he was ordered to settle in at Luoyang. He died around new year 782, early in Li Kuo's reign (as Emperor Dezong).

Notes and references

• Old Book of Tang, vol. 118.

• New Book of Tang, vol. 145

• Zizhi Tongjian, vols. 223, 224, 225.

家世

王縉生于武則天久視元年（700年）。他的家族本來自太原，但當時他卻客居河中。他的四世祖王儒賢、曾祖王知節、父親王處廉都官至司馬，祖父王胄則任協律郎。他至少有四個兄弟：兄長王維，弟弟王繟、王紘、王紞。還有一妹嫁汝州司馬蕭安親，生河南府洛陽縣丞蕭征。

王縉年輕時好學，和後來成為著名詩人的兄長王維都以文才聞名。他連中草澤、文辭清麗舉兩門特設科舉考試。

早期朝官生涯

王縉中科舉後，為韋抗所闢舉，先後擔任侍御史和武部員外郎。

天寶十四年（755年）唐河東、范陽、平盧三鎮節度使安祿山叛亂，王縉被選為太原少尹，輔佐將領李光弼鎮守太原。他的謀略為守城提供了很大幫助。加憲部侍郎，兼本官。至德元年（756年），作《奉天皇帝哀冊文》。在這場安史之亂期間，王維被叛軍俘虜，被迫在叛軍建立的偽朝大燕擔任官職。叛軍大部平息後，王維遭到彈劾，將被處罰。王縉願辭憲部侍郎（即刑部侍郎）換取兄長免罪。王維被免罪，但王縉被降了一階。

王縉善草隸書，《述書賦》收錄之，被認為勝過薛稷；與王維名望首冠一時，時人議論詩則稱王維，崔顥論筆則稱王縉，李邕、祖詠、張說都比不上他們。

乾元年間，王縉被外放為蜀州刺史。杜甫有《和裴迪登新津寺寄王侍郎》。時任尚書右丞的王維作《責躬薦弟表》稱自己忠、政、義、才、德均不如王縉，請求盡削自己官職放歸田裡，換取賜王縉散職令其在朝廷。王縉歷任國子祭酒、鳳翔尹（乾元二年（759年）—三年（760年））、秦隴州防禦使、工部侍郎、左散騎常侍。乾元二年七月他正在鳳翔任內時，王維病重，索要筆作別王縉書，又寫了給親故的作別書數幅，丟下筆就去世了。太上皇唐玄宗于寶應元年（762年）駕崩，王縉奉命起草《玄宗哀冊文》，時人認為寫得很好。後又改任兵部侍郎。同年，唐肅宗也駕崩。二年（763年）正月，愛好文學的唐代宗對王縉說：「卿的兄長在天寶年間詩名冠代，朕曾在諸王座聽聞王維樂章，如今傳下來多少？卿可進獻。」王縉答：「臣兄開元中詩百千餘篇，天寶事後，十不存一。最近從中外親故之間互相編綴，得到四百餘篇。」代宗遣中人王承華前去取，次日，時為銀青光祿大夫、尚書兵部侍郎兼御史大夫的王縉奉命獻上收集的數十百篇王維集、表。廣德元年（763年），大燕末代皇帝史朝義死，安史之亂徹底平息，唐代宗派王縉以本官宣慰大燕先前占領的河北地區，表現得稱旨。又任右散騎常侍。二年（764年）正月，宰相劉晏和李峴被罷免，由王縉和杜鴻漸取代；王縉被任為黃門侍郎、太微宮使、弘文崇賢館大學士，授同中書門下平章事。

拜相

廣德年間，連年歉收，谷價上漲，太子僕蕭複家貧，將要賣掉在昭應的祖產房屋。王縉聞其有林泉之美，想要，就派弟弟王紘相誘：「足下之才當然應該居右職（要職），如以房產奉家兄丞相，就能處要職了。」蕭複不肯，說自己賣地是為了救人不是為了換取好官職，王縉懷恨，罷其官，蕭複從此數年不得用。

同年七月，李光弼卒于河南諸道副元帥任上，八月，代宗任當時為金紫光祿大夫、行黃門侍郎、同中書門下平章事、兼弘文館崇元館大學士、知館事、仍充太清太微宮使、太原縣開國伯的王縉為侍中、兼持節都統河南、淮西、山南諸道諸節度行營事，晉封為太原郡公，食邑二千戶，前往洛陽代替李光弼，王縉懇切堅辭侍中、郡公，代宗同意了，又加王縉上柱國，兼領東都留守。奏右司員外郎趙涓充判官，代宗又以神策將軍郝廷玉為其都知兵馬使。王縉令試左金吾衛郎將劉昌歸宋州為牙門將。又表無錫尉皇甫冉為掌書記，拜庫部員外郎鄭叔則為檢校吏部員外郎。浙江西道都團練觀察使韋元甫曾在上表謝恩時歸功王縉和行軍司馬袁傪。永泰元年（765年）三月，王縉奏徐州處士皇甫晅養母以孝聞，請旌表門閭，獲准。四月，代宗下詔令王縉與汴河一帶諸道節度使合計商量，在夾河兩岸每兩驛置防援者三百人，給附近良田令其營種、分界。十一月，王縉請減諸道軍資錢四十萬貫修洛陽宮，獲准。但大曆元年（766年）八月，他已回到長安。當時當權宦官魚朝恩執掌國子監，在一場關于《易經》的講座上當著在場百官說，如果鼎（象徵相權）不平衡，將會傾覆，以此譏諷宰相王縉、元載。王縉發怒了，元載卻冷靜泰然，魚朝恩對別人說：「發怒是常情，但還在笑的人卻深不可測。」大曆初年，王縉奏進士盧綸為集賢學士、秘書省校書郎。二年（767年）二月，河中節度使郭子儀入朝，三月，代宗讓元載、王縉、左僕射裴冕、戶部侍郎第五琦、京兆尹黎幹、魚朝恩都在郭宅設宴，共出錢三十萬，一場酒會花費達到十萬緡。可見此時王縉仍在長安。又作《東京大敬愛寺大証禪師碑》。王縉曾在登封為官，又與大証禪師的師父廣德禪師素為知交，大証禪師的弟子正順又視王縉如父，故王縉作此碑文。

三年（768年），裴冕以左僕射、平章事充南都留守、河南淮西山南東道副元帥，取代了王縉。六月，實質獨立于朝廷的盧龍節度使李懷仙被下屬朱希彩、朱泚、朱滔所殺，代宗想重掌盧龍，閏六月，以當時為金紫光祿大夫、門下侍郎、同中書門下平章事、持節河南副元帥、都統河南淮西山南東道諸節度行營使、兼東都留守的王縉兼盧龍節度使。皇甫冉、皇甫曾、張侶作《送王相公赴幽州》，韓翃作《奉送王相公赴幽州》。七月，王縉到盧龍後，建立旌節，朱希彩表面極其尊敬他，但讓士兵保持高度警惕，不讓他真正接手盧龍。王縉知道自己無法從朱希彩手上奪取盧龍的控制權，勞軍十餘日即委政朱希彩，返回長安。閏六月朱希彩即被任為知留後，十一月被任為節度使。同年八月，河東節度使辛雲京卒，代宗派時為門下侍郎、同中書門下平章事、兼幽州長史、持節、河南副元帥、都統河南、淮西、山南東道諸節度行營、兼幽州盧龍等軍節度使、太微宮使、弘文館大學士、兼東都留守、齊國公的王縉前往太原兼充河東軍節度使，仍保有原職，兼太原尹、北都留守，以杜鴻漸代為東都留守及充河南、淮西、山南東道副元帥，但杜鴻漸稱病表請退休，最終未上任。四年（769年）三月，追贈王縉祖父王胄為兵部尚書，祖母程氏為趙國夫人。六月，王縉上表請辭河南副元帥、東都留守、都統、行營使，代宗批准。王縉就任河東時，太原舊將王無縱、張奉璋以為王縉是文人，多次不遵其令。九月，王縉受詔任他們為兵馬使，命他們與馬軍使舍利割旃率步騎三千去西面吐蕃邊境鹽州抵禦吐蕃入侵（防秋），舍利割旃先渡河，王無縱、張奉璋逗留不進，合謀作亂，王無縱找理由擅自重返太原。王縉起初不知道，後來王、張的謀劃洩露，太原城內官吏多秘密做準備，有人告知王縉。王縉密令召王無縱等，潛伏甲士，王無縱等不知道事洩，到後，王縉以義責之，于是與監軍及軍將等面向朝廷再拜陳說王無縱等悖亂、軍有常刑，于是斬了王無縱、張奉璋及其同謀王希藝、蘇延福等七人，從此將領不敢再違逆他了，河東軍府稍得安定。在任內曾奏及時為北都的太原府的官吏選取事。五年（770年）四月，王縉罷節度使，入朝長安，以本官複為宰相。

當年，在協助代宗誅殺魚朝恩後，元載成為朝廷上的首席宰相。王縉順從元載，儘管王縉以自大聞名，元載也為之不快，但兩人關係良好。黎幹意圖批評元載為政。一次，他向王縉報告，王縉卻侮辱他：「京兆尹是南方的君子（一作孤生），怎麼知道朝廷的禮儀和事！」黎幹是戎州人。

七年（772年）七月，遣當時為金紫光祿大夫、門下侍郎、同中書門下平章事兼弘文館大學士知館事、充太清宮使、上柱國、齊國公的王縉為使者，持節禮冊封皇女為普寧公主。

八年（773年）五月，元載、王縉的黨羽禮部侍郎徐浩被貶明州別駕，薛邕被貶歙州刺史。當月，皇次子鄭王李邈去世，王縉奉命以攝太尉、黃門侍郎、平章事身份持節于柩前追冊他為昭靖太子。十一月，宴宰相、郭子儀、李抱玉、王縉、元載及僕射裴遵慶、侯希逸、御史大夫李棲筠、吏部尚書劉晏、渭北節度使臧希讓、神策軍兵馬使王駕鶴、京兆尹杜濟于延英殿，賜物有差；閏十一月，又宴宰相及節度使、轉運使、御史大夫、京兆尹、判度支、戶部侍郎于內殿，賜錦採金銀器物各有差。

王縉及其兄弟們都是虔誠的佛教徒，王維、王縉兄弟根本不吃肉，不穿彩衣。妻子李氏重病七年後去世，他請求把道政里的私宅改為寶應寺，以求為亡妻祈福，度僧人三十人住持，請求賜寺額獲准。每當節度觀察使入朝，王縉就請他們來寶應寺遊玩，施加壓力讓他們捐助佛寺。王縉不僅影響了同為佛教徒的元載和杜鴻漸（于大曆四年剃髮、去世），他們都喜歡給僧人供飯，且也使代宗篤信佛教並深信只要如此，就能使唐朝無論遭受什麼災難都能免于覆亡。代宗下令僧尼免于刑罰，建立很多寺廟。王縉和杜鴻漸也施財造了很多寺廟。由于皇帝和宰相帶頭，很多官員也都成為佛教徒。五台山有金閣寺，鑄銅為瓦，塗金于上，照耀山谷，花費錢多達億萬。王縉給中書省符牒，令台山僧數十人分行郡縣，聚徒講說，以求牟利。《舊唐書》將代宗朝缺乏政績歸咎于此。

元載與王縉請以河中為中都，以關輔河東十州稅奉京師，選兵五萬屯中都，鎮御四方，可以秋季行幸、春季回，也可以避羌戎之患。元載因代宗對自己言聽計從，就命官吏在河中造宮殿，築私宅。代宗得知後厭惡，擱置其議。

十年（775年）十二月，元載、王縉奏魏州鹽貴，請禁鹽入其境以困之。代宗不許，說：「田承嗣（魏博節度使，軍部在魏州）負朕，百姓何罪！」代宗還曾令王縉撰田承嗣紀功碑賜給魏州人。

十二年（777年）三月，元載和王縉都已非常腐敗，元載妻王氏、子揚州兵曹參軍元伯和、祠部員外郎元仲武、王縉的弟弟、妹妹及出入其家的尼姑都有受賄的，如同商賈；他倆又把政事委託群吏，士人想進身都不得不結交二人子弟及主書卓英倩等。代宗雖然寬容，卻也不快，與舅父左金吾大將軍吳湊圖謀。時有月入太微、月逼心星的天象。正好有人告發二人夜醮（夜間請道士在家作法）圖謀不軌，代宗就在延英殿上命吳湊將他們逮捕囚禁于政事堂，並將元仲武、卓英倩等下獄，交由吏部尚書劉晏、御史大夫李涵、散騎常侍蕭昕、兵部侍郎袁傪、禮部侍郎常袞、諫議大夫杜亞訊問，遣中使詰問，元載、王縉都伏罪。元載及其妻及子元伯和、元仲武、校書郎元季能被處決。其黨吏部侍郎楊炎、檢校刑部尚書王昂、諫議大夫韓洄、包佶、起居舍人韓會等十餘人，都從坐籍沒家產。王縉原本被賜自盡，但劉晏對李涵說按舊例重刑應當覆奏，且王縉所犯罪責不如元載，二人罪責應分首從，李涵等也認可，吳湊也上諫不可對從坐者也一律處以極刑。代宗也憐憫他年老，于是免他一死，貶為持節括州諸軍事，守括州（後改名處州）刺史，而其他元載黨羽也因而止于被貶免于一死。劉長卿有詩《餞王相公出牧括州》。之前州縣官俸祿不一，又因元載、王縉隨情徇私，刺史月俸祿有的達到千緡，有的數十緡，五月才粗定了節度使以下至主簿、尉的俸祿。卓英倩等被杖殺。

王縉兄弟有詩名于世，王縉做大官後延闢的都是辭人名士，因盧綸擅長作詩，禮待很厚。王縉得罪，盧綸也獲罪遭連累。常州人庾准本無學術，因得幸于王縉，官至中書舍人，再遷尚書右丞，這時也被出為汝州刺史。

王縉為相時曾上《大臣入朝見百寮奏》；元載、王縉為相時，代宗每天賜內廚御饌，可供十人食用，遂為慣例。八月，宰相常袞與朱泚上言認為餐費已經過剩，請求停賜饌，獲准。常袞為相時，想改革元載、王縉受賄用人之弊，杜絕僥倖，一概不答應四方奏請，但對人才無所甄別，導致賢者愚者仕途一同受阻。

遭貶後

十四年（779年）六月，代宗以王縉為太子賓客，但不許回長安而是在洛陽就職。唐德宗繼位不久，他即在建中二年（781年）十二月去世。

軼聞

安史之亂中安祿山劫持王維，唐肅宗平亂後，王維本以六等定罪，必須流放遠州，王縉請削己職以贖兄罪，後來唐肅宗得知了王維私下寫的詩《聞逆賊凝碧池作樂》，知道王維是「被脅從賊」，因而赦免了王維。

《唐語林》《劉賓客嘉話錄》等載，元載用侍郎李紓知制誥，元載身敗名裂，李紓想出外，王縉要他暫且留下繼續知制誥，然後才出他為婺州刺史。此記載存疑，因元載與王縉當是一同失勢的。

《唐語林》記載的王縉其他故事：

1.王縉多給人作碑誌。有人把潤筆費誤送到王維處。王維說：「大作家在那邊！」

2.杜鴻漸為都統、副元帥，王縉代之。杜鴻漸對人說：「一個月乞索兒一萬貫錢。」這是因為計使料多，以此詰問俸錢都數。

3.元伯和、李騰、李騰弟李淮與王縉被時人謂為「四凶」。

評價

• 《舊唐書》

　• 史臣曰：仲尼云：富與貴是人之欲，不以道得之不處。反乎是道者小人。……縉附會奸邪，以至顛覆。……三子者咸著文章，殊乖德行。「不常其德，或承之羞」，大《易》之義也。富貴不以其道，小人之事哉！觀庾准之憸，遭王縉之複，徇楊炎之意，曲致劉晏之冤。積惡而獲令終者，其在餘殃乎！

　• 贊曰：（元）載、縉、（楊）炎、（庾）准，交相附會。《左傳》有言，貪人敗類。

• 《新唐書》贊曰：縉言福業報應，參得君自私，無可論者。

家庭

妻妾

• 李氏，本為左丞韋濟妻，守寡後投奔王縉，為王縉所嬖，冒稱為妻，其實是妾。

子女

• 按《太平廣記》，王縉有女王韞秀，又稱王家十二娘子，元載妻，後與元載同死。但按《舊唐書》《新唐書》《唐語林》等，元載妻是王忠嗣女。或因王縉與元載親近出現誤傳。

注釋及參考文獻