Early life and career

Wei Guan was from Anyi County (安邑縣), Hedong Commandery, which is located west of present-day Xia County, Shanxi. His father Wei Ji (衛覬) was a high-ranking Wei official and marquis, who died in 229. Wei Guan inherited his father's peerage, and when he grew older became an official. Throughout the years, he became known for his capability and was continuously promoted. After Cao Huan became emperor, he became an Official of Justice (廷尉卿), and was known for his strength in logical thinking.

When the Wei regent Sima Zhao ordered the generals Zhong Hui and Deng Ai to attack Wei's rival state Shu Han in 263, Wei Guan served as Deng Ai's deputy. After the fall of Shu that year, Zhong Hui planned a rebellion, and the first step of his preparation was to falsely accuse Deng Ai of treason. Sima Zhao, believing Zhong Hui's accusations, ordered Deng Ai arrested, and Zhong Hui in turn ordered Wei Guan to arrest Deng Ai, hoping that Wei Guan would fail and be killed by Deng Ai so that he could further affirm his accusations against Deng Ai. Wei Guan knew this, so he surprised Deng Ai in the middle of the night and arrested him. When Zhong Hui rebelled later, Wei Guan pretended to be seriously ill, so Zhong Hui lowered his guard against Wei Guan. Later, Wei Guan participated in inciting the soldiers to start a mutiny against Zhong Hui and end the rebellion. Fearful that Deng Ai would then retaliate against him, he had Deng Ai tracked down and killed. When Du Yu publicly denounced Wei Guan, instead of becoming angry and retaliate against Du Yu, Wei Guan visited him and apologised. He also declined a larger fief that Sima Zhao was ready to bestow on him for his accomplishments.

Career during the Jin dynasty

In 265, Sima Zhao died and was succeeded as regent by his son Sima Yan (Emperor Wu), who later that year usurped the throne from Cao Huan, thus ending the Cao Wei state and establishing the Jin dynasty (266–420). Throughout Emperor Wu's reign, Wei Guan continued to be an important official and general, serving in a variety of roles capably. As a result, one of his brothers and one of his sons were granted marquis titles. Wei Guan attempted to implement a revised civil service system, where the civil service examiner (中正) would have less input on grading officials, and actual job performance would become more important, but while Emperor Wu liked Wei Guan's suggestions, he did not carry them out.

Wei Guan was one of the few officials who dared to openly speak to Emperor Wu about his choice of heir apparent, his son Sima Zhong, who was developmentally disabled. On one occasion, Emperor Wu, after Wei Guan hinted that Sima Zhong should not be crown prince, sent a number of inquiries to Sima Zhong to have answered. When the inquiries were appropriately answered (because Sima Zhong's wife Jia Nanfeng had someone else answer the inquiries for Sima Zhong), Emperor Wu was happy and publicly showed Wei Guan the answers, embarrassing Wei Guan greatly and making it clear to other officials that Wei Guan had said something.

After Emperor Wu's death in 290, Yang Jun, the father of Empress Dowager Yang, assumed the regency for Sima Zhong, who ascended the throne as Emperor Hui. However, in 291, Yang Jun was overthrown and killed in a coup started by Empress Jia. Wei Guan was then made regent, along with Emperor Hui's granduncle Sima Liang. Wei Guan and Sima Liang tried to get the government on track, but Empress Jia continued to interfere with governmental matters. They also became concerned about the violent temper of Emperor Hui's brother Sima Wei (who was heavily involved in the coup against Yang Jun) and therefore tried to strip him of his military command, but Sima Wei persuaded Empress Jia to let him keep his military command. Sima Wei's assistants Qi Sheng (岐盛) and Gongsun Hong thereafter falsely told Empress Jia that Sima Liang and Wei Guan planned to depose the emperor. Empress Jia, who had already resented Wei Guan for having, during Emperor Wu's reign, suggested that he change his choice of heir apparent, also wanted more direct control over the government, and therefore resolved to undergo a second coup.

In summer 291, Empress Jia instructed Emperor Hui to write an imperial edict to Sima Wei, ordering him to have Sima Liang and Wei Guan removed from their offices. His forces thereby surrounded Sima Liang and Wei Guan's mansions, and while both men's subordinates recommended resistance, each declined and was captured. Against what the edict said, both were killed – Sima Liang with his heir Sima Ju and Wei Guan with nine of his sons and grandsons. After Empress Jia, concerned about Sima Wei's power, then falsely declared that the edict was forged by Sima Wei and had him executed, Wei Guan was posthumously rehabilitated and restored to the status of a duke.

生平

衛瓘十歲時，父親就去世，表現至孝過人，承襲父親閔鄉侯爵位。成年後，當上尚書郎。尚書臺是權力中心，而彼時曹魏法度嚴苛，母親陳氏很擔心他，故衛瓘自求轉任通事郎，後又轉中書郎。入仕十年間，曹魏由權臣專政，衛瓘卻能巧妙在他們之間遊走，不親近任何一方，也做得稱職。傅嘏因而看重衛瓘，稱他是甯武子。以後累經升遷，升任散騎常侍。魏元帝即位後，衛瓘轉任侍中，持節慰勞河北。後轉廷尉卿，因通明法理，每參聽訟案，不論案情大小都必依實情處理。

克蜀平叛

景元四年（263年），司馬昭命征西將軍鄧艾、鎮西將軍鍾會等領兵攻伐蜀漢，衛瓘時以廷尉卿持節監（察）鄧艾、鍾會軍事，行鎮西軍司，並受命統兵一千人。同年，鄧艾在鍾會大軍遭姜維阻於劍閣之際，經陰平小道徑取成都，並接受後主劉禪投降，滅掉蜀漢。但鄧艾建立滅蜀功勳後，致力使局勢穩固的措施在朝中被視為獨斷專行，尤以未經直屬上司司馬昭允准而任命臨時官員。鄧艾時向司馬昭建議一些懷柔蜀漢遺民的措施籠絡東吳，司馬昭透過衛瓘向鄧艾說：「這些人事任命等相關事宜應當先向朝廷通報，不適合自己專斷而立即實行。」但鄧艾請求司馬昭考慮到「不能為常規失掉適當時機」。但鄧艾未料這樣的行為受到正嫉妒鄧艾滅蜀之功及自己私下懷有野心的鍾會利用，於是鍾會模仿鄧艾的筆跡，改寫了鄧艾寄給司馬昭書信的措辭，令司馬昭開始懷疑鄧艾有不臣之心，然後鍾會繼之聯合衞瓘、胡烈及師纂等人一同寫信向司馬昭密報鄧艾有反心。

景元五年（264年），司馬昭經由朝廷下詔以檻車收捕鄧艾，並押解回京審判。司馬昭擔心鄧艾會抗命，於是下令鍾會率軍成都協助逮捕，但鍾會卻先遣兵力較弱的衛瓘早於他出發到成都收擒鄧艾，打算借鄧艾之手殺了他，以坐實鄧艾的謀反。衛瓘心知肚明這是鍾會的借刀殺人之計，但因自己身任監軍，職責所在不能拒絕，唯有出發。衛瓘半夜到達成都後，向鄧艾手下的的將領發出檄文，表明是奉詔捉拿鄧艾一人，其餘一概不予追究。如果向官軍報到，爵位賞賜一如先前；如果膽敢不出面，就把那人誅三族。於是第二天雞鳴時，鄧艾的屬將們紛紛趕至衛瓘軍營中，只有不知情的鄧艾沒到。衞瓘於是在清晨乘使者車直入成都殿前，並使人收捕還未醒來的鄧艾父子。這時，有鄧艾的屬將攔劫囚車營救，率領兵馬來到衛瓘軍營。衛瓘穿著輕裝出來迎接，假稱正在寫奏章，要為鄧艾的事申辯冤屈，鄧艾親兵諸將相信了他而罷手。

鍾會於景元五年正月十五（264年2月29日）抵達成都後，將被囚的鄧艾送走，隨即展開他的謀反行動。翌日便召集起護軍、郡守及牙門以上高級軍官，偽稱郭太后死訊並為其發喪，又以假造的郭太后遺詔起兵討伐司馬昭。鍾會派親信代領諸軍，而將召來的胡烈等魏軍將領囚禁在原蜀漢各曹屋中。衛瓘也被鍾會留住討論事項，並獲告知想殺掉胡烈等人的意圖。衞瓘斷言拒絕，造成相互猜疑。衛瓘乘著上廁所的機會，將鍾會謀反的消息傳達給胡烈昔日的老部屬知道，讓他向軍隊傳播；另一方面，胡烈因鍾會帳下督丘建的幫助，得以與士兵接觸，故意向他們詐稱從丘建處得知鍾會已挖坑要坑殺所有魏軍，讓消息傳遍軍中。當時魏軍伐蜀，連年征戰在外，本有思鄉之心，軍隊中人心已經不穩，魏軍將士們得知這些消息後都想要討伐鍾會，但身為監軍的衛瓘仍被鍾會留著，故他們都不敢先動。當晚鍾會徹夜逼衛瓘同意其計劃，雙方都橫刀膝上。鍾會及後派衛瓘慰勞諸軍，這正合衛瓘心意，為了堅定鍾會意志，故意說：「卿是三軍之主，應該自己去慰勞。」鍾會答：「卿是監軍，你先去吧，我晚點再去。」衛瓘於是步出成都宮殿。不過鍾會很快就後悔了，派人召還衛瓘，衛瓘卻回答暈眩病發，還假裝倒地，但甫出殿閣，已有幾十個鍾會親信去追他。衛瓘趕回官舍，隨即服下鹽湯，造成嘔吐大作。由於衛瓘向來體弱，這樣看起來就似病得很重了，鍾會所派的親信和醫者見過他後都說他快不行了，鍾會遂安心。至黃昏，衛瓘寫檄文向諸軍宣布鍾會謀反，諸軍已有準備，於是在翌日午間各軍一同發起兵變攻襲鍾會，最終鍾會等軍戰敗，鍾會被殺。衞瓘接著重新部署諸將，經歷大亂後的魏軍又安定整肅起來。

鄧艾本營的將領又要追囚車救出鄧艾，迎接他回成都，衛瓘自認先前與鍾會一起聯合誣陷鄧艾謀反，擔心鄧艾一旦被部屬釋放，會來找自己算帳，擔心會有變故，同時更想獨攬瓦解鍾會之亂的功勞，於是派遣原本鄧艾的部屬護軍田續至綿竹，於三造亭夜襲並殺死鄧艾父子。起初，鄧艾進入江油時，田續因為地形險惡難走、害怕死亡而不敢前進，鄧艾原本想要殺了他以提振軍心士氣，因左右為田續求情而放了他，等到衛瓘派遣田續，對他說：「現在你可以報在江油受辱的仇了。」

事後，朝中議論要加封衛瓘，衛瓘稱克蜀之功是眾人的功勞，而鄧艾、鍾會二將則是自取滅亡，自己在其中雖有運用智謀，但不是領導者，故堅持不接受賞賜。之後任使持節都督關中諸軍事、鎮西將軍的職位，不久轉任都督徐州諸軍事、鎮東將軍，增封為菑陽侯。

安定幽并

西晉建立後，衛瓘升任征東將軍、進爵為菑陽公。泰始五年（269年），轉都督青州諸軍事、青州刺史，升任征東大將軍、青州牧。衛瓘先前在關中、徐州及現在青州都有政績。後泰始七年八月丙戌日（271年9月30日）轉赴任所與烏桓接壤的征北大將軍、都督幽州諸軍事、幽州刺史，領烏桓校尉。衛瓘上任後，上表分幽州立平州，最終朝廷於泰始十年（274年）置平州，並與衛瓘加都督平州。當時北方邊境東有烏桓，西有拓跋鮮卑拓跋力微，都屢有侵邊之舉。咸寧元年（275年），拓跋力微遣子拓跋沙漠汗向晉朝貢，衛瓘以沙漠汗雄異非常，慮為後患，於是上表請留沙漠汗，又請以重金賄賂鮮卑諸部大人，用以分化拓跋鮮卑，於是拓跋部中執事及外部大人都受過晉賂。衛瓘又賄賂庫賢，並以此達至分化烏桓及拓跋鮮卑的效果，終於烏桓降而拓跋力微憂死，解除邊患。

咸寧四年（278年），朝廷徵衛瓘入朝升任尚書令，加侍中。衛瓘為人嚴肅，以法御下，視諸尚書為參佐而尚書郎是掾屬。太康三年十二月甲申日（283年1月28日），衛瓘領銜司空，兼侍中及尚書令，因為政簡約更得朝野讚譽，晉武帝更下令將繁昌公主賜婚給衛瓘第四子衛宣。以後又加衛瓘領太子少傅。

晉時依曹魏行九品中正制，但衛瓘認為這根本只是權宜的制度，應該是時候恢復古時鄉里選舉人才，遂與太尉汝南王司馬亮等人上疏求廢九品中正制，言九品之制已是「中間雜染，遂計資定品，使天下觀望，唯以居位為貴，人棄德而忽道業，爭多少於錐刀之末，傷損風俗，其弊不細」；反而復古制是「使朝臣共相舉任，出才之路既博，且可以厲進賢之公心，覈在位之明闇」。晉武帝雖然同意，但沒有改易制度。

忠貞遭禍

晉武帝司馬炎早在泰始三年（267年）就立了皇子司馬衷為太子，但其實朝臣都知司馬衷並不聰明，無能力判斷政事，衛瓘也常想上陳請求改易儲君，但始終不敢直說。後來一次，衛瓘乘宴會後酒醉就在御床前跪下說：「臣有事想啓奏。」武帝答：「有甚麼話想說？」衛瓘表現得欲言又止，然後用手摸著御牀說：「這個座位真是可惜了！」晉武帝明白他是在暗示將來會坐上御床的太子才能與資質不足以承擔帝位，遂裝糊塗說：「你真是喝得太醉了吧？」衛瓘知道武帝不願更換太子，亦不敢再提此事。不過此言足使太子妃賈南風就此怨恨衛瓘。

太熙元年（290年），晉武帝患病，時權勢極盛的外戚楊駿與衛瓘亦不和。楊為了在外甥惠帝繼位後獨專大權，於是想藉讓衛宣與繁昌公主離婚而逼令衞瓘退位離開朝廷，遂與黃門以衛宣之前有過的酒色過失造文章謗譭他，讓晉武帝下令繁昌公主離婚，衛瓘亦被逼自求退位，獲崇為太保，以公爵還第。同年，武帝去世，惠帝即位，由楊駿單獨輔政。翌年（291年），已成皇后的賈南風欲專權而想除去楊駿，遂聯結司馬亮、鎮南將軍司馬瑋以及殿中中郎李肇及孟觀誅除楊駿。事後，衛瓘以太保加錄尚書事，加綠綟綬，劍屐上殿、入朝不趨及給騎司馬的禮遇，與汝南王亮一起輔政。衛瓘及司馬亮認為司馬瑋性格兇狠暴戾，不能重用，遂上奏請分遣諸王歸藩，但當時朝臣根本無人敢響應二人的建議，於是反而招來司馬瑋的怨恨。另一方面，衛瓘亦討厭楚王心腹公孫宏及歧盛的品行不端，更擔憂他們會成為禍亂，正要收捕歧盛。歧盛知後，與公孫宏定計，藉李肇之手假傳司馬瑋的話，向賈后中傷司馬亮及衛瓘。賈后因前怨已討厭衛瓘，又忌衛瓘阻破自己專權，於是順勢使惠帝下詔以二人圖謀廢立而廢黜二人，並下令司馬瑋去收捕二人。司馬瑋又假作詔命召集諸軍，派了清河王司馬遐收捕衛瓘，衛瓘身邊人懷疑司馬遐手持的詔命是假的，均諫請衛瓘莫從，先待自己上表問明事況。然衛瓘判斷事態已惡化、未有抵抗，最終未牽連全族，僅本家子孫等九人為司馬瑋所弒殺，終年七十二歲。

司馬瑋擅殺衛瓘及司馬亮後，隨即就被賈南風以此為由誅殺，衛瓘女兒及菑陽國臣都上書申冤，參與收葬衛瓘的太保主簿劉繇等人亦都上書陳情，最終朝廷以衛瓘在蜀地的功勳改封他為蘭陵郡公，增邑三千戶，並賜諡號成，贈假黃鉞。蘭陵郡公由倖免於難的孫兒衛璪承襲，後因東海王司馬越以蘭陵郡增益本國東海國而改封江夏郡公，有食邑八千五百戶。

性格特徵

• 《晉書》載衛瓘性貞靜有名理，以明識清允稱。

• 衛瓘學問淵博，有文才及藝術，尤其與同時的尚書郎索靖擅長草書，得當時人稱美為「一臺二妙」。時人更將其書法與漢末書法家張芝相提，稱「瓘得伯英筋，靖得伯英肉」。張懷瓘《書斷》以衞瓘的章草列為「神品」，小篆、隸書、行書、及草書則為「妙品」。

評價

• 鄧艾被衛瓘指使田續殺害後，杜預表達不滿：「伯玉其不免乎！身為名士，位居總帥，既無德音，又不禦下以正，是小人而乘君子之器，當何以堪其責乎？」衛瓘只好道歉。

• 《晉書》：「夫忠為令德，學乃國華，譬眾星之有禮義，人倫之有冠冕也。衞瓘撫武帝之牀，張華距趙倫之命，進諫則伯玉居多，臨危則茂先為美。遵乎險轍,理有可言：昏亂方凝，則事睽其趣；松筠無改，則死勝於生，固以赴蹈為期，而不辭乎傾覆者也。俱陷淫網，同嗟承劍，邦家殄瘁，不亦傷哉。」「賢人委質, 道映陸陵寒。尸祿觀敗，吾生未安。衛以賈滅，張由趙殘。忠於亂世，自古為難。」

家庭

父

• 衛覬

兄弟

• 衛寔，（史書作實，當從墓碑作寔）衞瓘弟；瓘封菑陽侯時分爵封為開陽亭侯。

子女輩

• 衛恆，蘭陵貞世子，與父同被殺

• 衞嶽，與父同被殺

• 衞裔，與父同被殺

• 衞宣，娶繁昌公主，後離婚，先衞瓘病死

• 衛氏

• 衛琇，字惠瑛，河東人，散騎常侍、聞陽鄉侯衛寔之女，司空衛瓘侄女。王浚繼妻，無子女。

孫輩

• 衛璪，衛恆子，襲爵，官至散騎侍郎，永嘉之亂時死於戰亂。

• 衛玠，衛恆子，有盛名。

• 衛鑠，衛恆女；李矩之妻衛夫人、書聖王羲之之師。

相關條目

• 魏滅蜀之戰

• 八王之亂

參考、注釋

參考書目

• 房玄齡，《晉書·衛瓘傳》

• 陳壽，《三國志》，卷28，〈鄧艾鍾會傳〉

• 司馬光，《資治通鑑》，卷78，〈魏紀十〉咸熙元年