Wang Yan | |
|---|---|
| 王衍 | |
| Minister of Works (司空) | |
| In office 307–310 | |
| Monarch | Emperor Huai of Jin |
| Minister Over the Masses (司徒) | |
| In office 308–311 | |
| Monarch | Emperor Huai of Jin |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 256 |
| Died | 5 May 311 |
| Spouse | Lady Guo |
| Children | Wang Xuan Wang Jingfeng Wang Huifeng Lady Wang |
| Parent |
|
| Occupation | Politician |
| Courtesy name | Yifu (夷甫) |
Wang Yan (256 – 5 May 311[1]), courtesy name Yifu, was a Chinese politician. He served as a minister and was one of the pure conversation leaders of the Jin dynasty (266–420). During the reign of Emperor Hui of Jin, Wang Yan grew popular among the court for his mastery in Qingtan and for being a patron of Xuanxue. Wang Yan vacillated between the warring princes during the War of the Eight Princes until he ended up with Sima Yue, who gave him a considerable amount of power in his administration. After Yue died in April 311, Wang Yan led his funeral procession but was ambushed and later executed by the Han-Zhao general, Shi Le at Ningping City (寧平; in modern Zhoukou, Henan). Though a bright scholar, Wang Yan was often associated by traditional historians as one of the root causes for Western Jin's demise due to his influential beliefs.