“First in Literature, Peerless as a Minister”: Wang Ao (王鏊), Grand Secretary of the Ming Dynasty

Wang Ao (王鏊, 1450–1524), courtesy name Jizhi (济之), pseudonym Shouxi (守溪), and in his later years, Zhuosou (拙叟), was a native of East Mount Dongting (洞庭东山, present-day East Mountain, Suzhou). A preeminent statesman and man of letters in the mid-Ming Dynasty, he served across the reigns of the Chenghua (成化), Hongzhi (弘治), Zhengde (正德), and Jiaqing (嘉靖) emperors. Rising to the position of Minister of Revenue and Grand Secretary of the Hall of Martial Valor (武英殿大学士), he was a first-rank official and remains a quintessential model of the Suzhou literatus. Celebrated for his integrity and vast erudition, he was praised by his contemporary Wang Yangming (王阳明) as a “perfect man” (完人) and lauded by his student Tang Bohu (唐伯虎) as “the foremost in literature across the seas, a minister without peer.”

I. A Prodigious Talent: Success in the Civil Service Examinations

Wang Ao hailed from the Three-槐 Hall Wang Clan (三槐堂王氏) of Luxiang (陆巷). While his family was not of the hereditary scholar-gentry, his father, Wang Wan (王琬), was a devoted scholar. Wang Ao began his studies under his father’s tutelage and displayed exceptional intelligence from a young age: he could read the classics and histories by age eight and compose poetry by twelve.

• Acclaimed in the Capital: At sixteen, he accompanied his father to the capital and studied at the Guozijian (国子监, Imperial Academy). His essays were so outstanding that fellow students vied to read and circulate them.
• Academic Pinnacle: In 1474 (the 10th year of the Chenghua reign), he took first place (Jieyuan, 解元) in the provincial examination. The following year, he secured first place (Huiyuan, 会元) in the metropolitan examination. In 1476, the Chenghua Emperor personally appointed him as Tanhua (探花, the third-ranked candidate in the palace examination), granting him the title of Compiler in the Hanlin Academy (翰林院编修). His achievement of “two firsts and one third” brought him nationwide fame.

II. Unyielding Integrity: The “Minister in the Mountains”

During his thirty-year career at court, Wang Ao was known for his upright character and fearless remonstrance, consistently upholding the dignity of the scholar-official class.

• Opposing the Powerful Eunuchs: During the Zhengde era, when the eunuch Liu Jin (刘瑾) usurped power, Wang Ao submitted numerous petitions in protest. When Liu Jin persecuted virtuous officials, Wang Ao mediated behind the scenes, saving the lives of figures like Han Wen (韩文), Liu Daxia (刘大夏), and Wang Yangming. When Wang Yangming was punished, Wang Ao personally warned him to be cautious—a debt of gratitude that led Wang Yangming to regard him as a “perfect man.”
• The “Poor Grand Secretary”: Despite holding the highest offices, he remained incorruptible and lived simply, possessing no personal fortune. He was affectionately known as the “Poor Grand Secretary of the World.”
• A Graceful Retreat: Disillusioned by the corruption of the court and the inability to reform the political situation, Wang Ao submitted three resignation petitions in 1509 (the 4th year of the Zhengde reign) before being allowed to return to his hometown of Suzhou.

III. Leader of the Wu School: Mentorship and Literary Innovation

Living in retirement in Suzhou for sixteen years, Wang Ao dedicated himself to writing and became the spiritual leader of the Wu (吴) region’s literati.

• Mentoring the “Four Talents”: He maintained deep friendships with the “Four Talents of Wu” (吴中四才子: Tang Yin [唐寅], Wen Zhengming [文徵明], Zhu Yunming [祝允明], and Xu Zhenqing [徐祯卿]). Notably, after Tang Yin (Tang Bohu) was disgraced in a civil service examination scandal, it was Wang Ao’s encouragement and financial support that helped him regain his confidence. To express his gratitude, Tang Yin painted the Portrait of Master Wang Becoming a Minister (王公拜相图).
• Reforming Literary Style: Wang Ao advocated for “selection based on classical scholarship” and led the rejection of the overly ornate and eccentric “Eight-Legged Essay” style of his time. He was instrumental in establishing the elegant and clear prose style of the mid-Ming Dynasty.
• Local Documentation: He presided over the compilation of the famous Gusu Gazetteer (姑苏志) and authored works such as the Zhenze Collection (震泽集) and Zhenze Memoirs (震泽长语), providing invaluable documentation for the history of Suzhou.

IV. The Confucian Physician: Mastery of Medicine

Wang Ao was not only a master of politics and literature but was also highly regarded for his medical knowledge.

• The “Monograph of Materia Medica”: While serving in the Hanlin Academy, he collected effective prescriptions from famous doctors, compiling them into the eight-volume Monograph of Materia Medica (本草单方), which was later published by his son, Wang Yanzhe (王延喆).
• Medical Insights: He argued that medical treatments should “evolve” alongside changes in a patient’s condition, opposing rigid adherence to ancient formulas—a view that reflected a rigorous, empirical spirit.

V. Family Legacy: The Heritage of the Three-Sophora Hall(三槐堂)

Wang Ao placed great emphasis on family education. His descendants continued to excel in literature and public service through the Qing Dynasty and into the modern era.

• The Wang Songwei Family: His 13th-generation descendant, Wang Songwei (王颂蔚), was a prominent late-Qing scholar and the mentor of the revolutionary educator Cai Yuanpei (蔡元培).
• Distinguished Women: The Wang clan produced several exceptional women, including the women’s rights pioneer Xie Changda (谢长达), the nuclear physicist He Zehui (何泽慧, Wang Ao’s granddaughter-in-law’s line), and Wang Mingzhen (王明贞), the first female professor at Tsinghua University.

VI. Marks on Suzhou

Today, Suzhou preserves several historical sites associated with Wang Ao:

• Xueshi Street : Named “Scholar Street” because Wang Ao once resided there as a Grand Secretary (大学士).
• Luxiang Ancient Village: Features three towering stone arches dedicated to his achievements as Jieyuan, Huiyuan, and Tanhua, marking his years of diligent study.
• Wang Wenke Ancestral Hall and Former Residence: His former residence, “Huihe Hall” (惠和堂) in East Mountain, and the Wang Ao Ancestral Hall in the Suzhou city center remain important sites for visitors to honor this “perfect man.”