Wang Hong 王弘

Wang Hong 王弘 (379-432), courtesy name Xiuyuan 休元, was a high minister of the Liu-Song dynasty 劉宋 (420-479), one of the Southern Dynasties 南朝 (420-589). He hailed from Linyi 臨沂 in the commandery of Langye 瑯邪 and was a descendant of Wang Dao 王導 (276-339), an eminent minister of the Jin dynasty 晉 (265-420).

At the end of the Eastern Jin period 東晉 (317-420), he served as chief clerk (zhubu 主簿) to Sima Daozi 司馬道子 (364-403), the Prince of Guiji 會稽. During a time when agricultural activity had declined, he proposed the implementation of military agro-colonies (tuntian 屯田) to revitalize farming.

He followed general Liu Yu 劉裕 (363-422; the eventual founder of the Liu-Song dynasty, Emperor Wu 宋武帝, r. 420-422) in various military campaigns. In 415, he rose to the post of Chief of Staff to the Defender-in-chief (taiwei zhangshi 太尉長史), later becoming Left Chief of Staff (zuo zhangshi 左長史). He once petitioned on Liu Yu's behalf for the Nine Privileges (jiuxi 九錫), a set of honors signaling imperial favor and legitimacy.

When the Liu-Song dynasty was established, he was invested as District Duke of Huarong 華容縣公 in recognition of his merit in supporting the founding of the new regime. In 424, he participated alongside Xu Xianzhi 徐羨之 (364-426) and other conspirators in deposing and executing the Infant Emperor 宋少帝, Liu Yifu 劉義符 (r. 422-424), paving the way for Emperor Wen 宋文帝 (r. 424-453) to ascend the throne. Afterward, he was promoted to the position of Minister of Works (sikong 司空).

When Xu Xianzhi and his faction were eliminated, Wang Hong was spared because he had not been the chief conspirator and because his younger brother Wang Tanshou 王曇首 (394-430) was a trusted confidant of Emperor Wen. As a result, he retained high office, continuing to serve as Palace Attendant (shizhong 侍中), Minister of Revenue (situ 司徒), and regional inspector (cishi 刺史) of the province of Yangzhou 揚州.

He once submitted a memorial requesting that members of the scholarly elite (shi 士人, see menfa 門閥) not be implicated along with commoners (shumin 庶民) in collective punishment (lianzuo 連坐), and that the age for full labor conscription be raised from sixteen to seventeen sui.

In 432, he was bestowed the honorific title of Grand Guardian (taibao 太保) and also served as Supervisor of the Palace Secretariat (zhongshu jian 中書監).

Throughout his long service in provincial and central government roles, he was known for his integrity and never sought personal profit. In all his conduct — whether in action, speech, or written correspondence — people modelled themselves after him. His style became known as the "Wang Grand Guardian's Family Code" (Wang Taibao jiafa 王太保家法).