Wang Shaoding (; died 857), courtesy name Sixian (), was a general of the Chinese Tang Dynasty, briefly ruling Chengde Circuit (成德, headquartered in modern

Shijiazhuang Shijiazhuang (; ; Mandarin: ), formerly known as Shimen and romanized as Shihkiachwang, is the capital and most populous city of China’s North China's Hebei Province. Administratively a prefecture-level city, it is about southwest of Beijin ...

, Hebei) in ''de facto'' independence from the imperial government as military governor ('' Jiedushi'').

Background

It is not known when Wang Shaoding was born. His family had been, prior to him, in control of Chengde Circuit for two generations, after his grandfather Wang Tingcou seized control of the circuit in 821 without imperial approval and eventually forced the imperial government to acquiesce; his father Wang Yuankui later succeeded Wang Tingcou and took a more conciliatory stance with the imperial government. Wang Shaoding was Wang Yuankui's oldest son. During Wang Yuankui's rule of Chengde, Wang Shaoding became deputy military governor, the commander of the Chengde troops, and acting commandant of Chengde's capital Zhen Prefecture ().''

Old Book of Tang The ''Old Book of Tang'', or simply the ''Book of Tang'', is the first classic historical work about the Tang dynasty, comprising 200 chapters, and is one of the Twenty-Four Histories. Originally compiled during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdo ...

'', vol. 142. When Wang Yuankui died in 855, the soldiers supported Wang Shaoding to succeed him. Then-reigning

Emperor Xuānzong Emperor Xuanzong of Tang (July 27, 810 – September 7, 859) (reigned April 25, 846 – September 7, 859) was an emperor in the latter part of the Tang dynasty of China. Personally named Li Yi, later renamed Li Chen (), and known before his rei ...

initially made Wang Shaoding acting military governor, and, later in the year, full military governor.'' Zizhi Tongjian'', vol. 249.

As military governor

Wang Shaoding, however, was said to be inappropriate in his behavior, favoring drinking, and particularly liking to sling bullets at people from towers for fun. The soldiers became so displeased with him that they considered overthrowing him, but before they could do so, he fell ill and died in 857. The soldiers supported his younger brother

Wang Shaoyi Wang Shaoyi (; died 866), formally the Count of Taiyuan (), was a general of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty who ruled Chengde Circuit (成德, headquartered in modern Shijiazhuang, Hebei) in ''de facto'' independence from the imperial government ...

to be the new military governor, and Emperor Xuānzong approved the succession and granted Wang Shaoding posthumous honors. Wang Shaoding's son Wang Jingchong later succeeded Wang Shaoyi.''Zizhi Tongjian'', vol. 250.

Notes and references

* ''

'', vol. 142. * ''

New Book of Tang The ''New Book of Tang'', generally translated as the "New History of the Tang" or "New Tang History", is a work of official history covering the Tang dynasty in ten volumes and 225 chapters. The work was compiled by a team of scholars of the So ...

'', vol. 211. * '' Zizhi Tongjian'', vol. 249. {{DEFAULTSORT:Wang, Shaoding 9th-century births 857 deaths Tang dynasty jiedushi of Chengde Circuit Politicians from Shijiazhuang Tang dynasty generals from Hebei