Wang Ya (; died December 17, 835), courtesy name Guangjin (), noble title Duke of Dai (), was an official of the Chinese Tang dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reigns of Emperor Xianzong and Emperor Xianzong's grandson Emperor Wenzong. During Emperor Wenzong's reign, he became involved in a major power struggle between imperial officials and eunuchs known as the Sweet Dew incident, and he was killed via waist chop by the eunuchs along with three other chancellors, Li Xun, Jia Su, and Shu Yuanyu.
Background It is not known what year Wang Ya was born in—although he should have been born sometime between 757 and 765, as he was said to be in his 70s when he eventually died in 835.Old Book of Tang, vol. 169. His family was from the Tang dynasty's northern capital Taiyuan and claimed to be descended from the Northern Wei official Wang Jiong (). His grandfather Wang Zuo () served as a military advisor to a prefect, while his father Wang Huang () served as a prefectural prefect. He had at least two older brothers, Wang Zhao () and Wang Jie ().New Book of Tang, vol. 72.
In 792, during the reign of Emperor Dezong, Wang Ya passed the imperial examinations in the class of those who used grand speech, and he was made the sheriff of Lantian County (藍田, in modern Xi'an, Shaanxi). In 804, he was made Hanlin Xueshi (), an imperial scholar. He thereafter served in the palace, going through the offices of You Shiyi (), a low-level consultant at the legislative bureau of government (中書省, Zhongshu Sheng); Zuo Bujue (), a consultant at the examination bureau (門下省, Menxia Sheng); and Qiju Sheren (), an imperial chronicler. After Emperor Dezong died in 805 and was succeeded by his seriously ill son Emperor Shunzong, Wang was one of the imperial scholars who were involved in drafting the edict to create Emperor Shunzong's son Li Chun crown prince, along with Zheng Yin, Wei Cigong (), and Li Cheng.Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 236.
During Emperor Xianzong's reign In summer 808, by which time Li Chun was emperor (as Emperor Xianzong), a special imperial examination was held for examinees to submit criticism of the government. Niu Sengru, Huangfu Shi (), and Li Zongmin were considered to have written criticisms that were particularly on point and were ranked the highest by the officials in charge of grading, Yang Yuling () and Wei Guanzhi. Initially, Emperor Xianzong was set to give commissions to Niu, Huangfu, and Li Zongmin, but the chancellor Li Jifu was offended by the criticism. As Wang Ya and fellow imperial scholar Pei Ji were the reviewers of the examination, and Huangfu was Wang's nephew, he accused Pei and Wang of conflict of interest. Due to Li Jifu's accusations, Pei and Wang were stripped of their imperial scholar status and both demoted—with Wang being made Duguan Yuanwailang (), a low-level official at the ministry of justice (刑部, Xingbu), and subsequently being sent out of the capital to serve as the military advisor to the prefect of Guo Prefecture (虢州, in modern Sanmenxia, Henan). Yang and Wei were also demoted out of the capital Chang'an.Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 237. He was subsequently further made the prefect of Yuan Prefecture (袁州, in modern Yichun, Jiangxi).New Book of Tang, vol. 179.
However, it was said that Emperor Xianzong missed Wang, and Wang was eventually recalled to serve as Bingbu Yuanwailang (), a low-level official at the ministry of defense (兵部, Bingbu), and put in charge of drafting edicts. He was then again made imperial scholar as well as deputy minister of public works (工部侍郎, Gongbu Shilang). He was also created the Baron of Qingyuan. It was said that Wang was a talented writer and many of the edicts that had beautiful language during the reigns of Emperors Dezong and Xianzong were drafted by Wang. As Wang did not engage in partisanship, Emperor Xianzong often consulted with him.
In 816, Wang was made Zhongshu Shilang (), the deputy head of the legislative bureau, as well as chancellor de facto with the title Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi ().Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 239. In 817, there was an occasion when Emperor Xianzong wanted to make one of his close associates, Zhang Su (), a high-level consultant, drawing a strenuous objection from the chancellor Li Fengji—and this was partially responsible for Emperor Xianzong's removing Li Fengji and making him a military governor (jiedushi). Wang and fellow chancellor Cui Qun also objected to Zhang's commission, but eventually allowed Zhang to serve as acting consultant.Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 240.
In 818, Wang was removed from his chancellor position and made the deputy minister of defense (兵部侍郎, Bingbu Shilang), as Emperor Xianzong considered him too silent and unsuitable to be chancellor. He was subsequently made the deputy minister of civil service affairs (吏部侍郎, Libu Shilang).
During Emperor Muzong's reign In 820, after Emperor Xianzong died and was succeeded by his son Emperor Muzong, Wang Ya was made the military governor of Dongchuan Circuit (東川, headquartered in modern Mianyang, Sichuan) and the prefect of Dongchuan's capital Zi Prefecture (). In winter 820, after Tufan forces made a two-pronged incursion later in the year and attacked Ya Prefecture (雅州, in modern Ya'an, Sichuan),Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 241. Wang submitted a petition suggesting that a request be made to the "northern barbarians"probably referring to the generally friendly Uyghur Khaganaterequesting that they attack the "western barbarians" (i.e. Tufan) and offering great rewards if they did so. Emperor Muzong did not respond to Wang's suggestion.
In 821, when Chengde (成德, headquartered in modern Shijiazhuang, Hebei) and Lulong (盧龍, headquartered in modern Beijing) Circuits, which had briefly submitted to imperial control, rebelled under the leadership of Wang Tingcou and Zhu Kerong respectively, Wang Ya submitted a petition suggesting that Zhu be tolerated and pardoned so that he would not join Wang Tingcou in fighting the imperial forces and that the efforts be concentrated against Wang Tingcou. By the time that Wang Ya's petition arrived at Chang'an, however, Yingmo Circuit (瀛莫, headquartered in modern Cangzhou, Hebei), which had been carved out of Pinglu Circuit previously, had already mutinied and rejoined Lulong, with the soldiers arresting its imperially commissioned governor Lu Shimei () and delivering him to Zhu. Wang Ya's suggestion thus could not be carried out.
In 823, Wang Ya was recalled to Chang'an to serve as chief imperial censor (御史大夫, Yushi Daifu).
During Emperor Jingzong's reign After Emperor Muzong died in 824 and was succeeded by his son Emperor Jingzong,Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 243. Wang Ya was made the deputy minister of census (戶部侍郎, Hubu Shilang) but also continued to serve as chief imperial censor, as well as the director of the salt and iron monopolies and grain supply for the Chang'an region. He was soon made the minister of rites (禮部尚書, Libu Shangshu) and continued to serve as the director of the monopolies and supply. In 826, he was made the military governor of Shannan West Circuit (山南西道, headquartered in modern Hanzhong, Shaanxi), as well as its capital Xingyuan Municipality ().
During Emperor Wenzong's reign In 829, by which time Emperor Jingzong's brother Emperor Wenzong was emperor, Wang Ya was recalled to serve as the minister of worship (太常卿, Taichang Qing). As Emperor Wenzong opined that the music used at imperial ceremonies at the time were too frivolous and wanted more ancient-style music, he had Wang Ya consult the older musicians and took music from Emperor Xuanzong's Kaiyuan era (713–741). The young musicians were taught the music, which became known as "Yunshao Style" (). Once the musical reorganization was done, Wang, along with the secretary general of the worship ministry Li Kuo () and the director of palace supplies Yu Chengxian () presented the musicians to Emperor Wenzong. Emperor Wenzong was pleased and awarded Wang and the others colored silk.
In 830, Wang was made the minister of civil service affairs (吏部尚書, Libu Shangshu) and acting Sikong (司空, one of the Three Excellencies), as well as the director of the salt and iron monopolies and grain supplies again. Later that year, he was made Zuo Pushe (), one of the heads of the executive bureau (尚書省, Shangshu Sheng), and continued to be director of the monopolies and supplies. He reported to Emperor Wenzong that the 12 prefectures that Emperor Xianzong recaptured from the warlord Li Shidao in 819 had previously had copper and iron mines that were highly lucrative. At Wang's suggestion, Emperor Wenzong ordered that a new tax be levied from the mines.
In 833, Wang was again made chancellor with the title Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi, and continued to serve as the director of the monopolies and supplies.Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 244. He was also created the Duke of Dai. As he had been recommended to serve as chancellor due to the efforts of Zheng Zhu, a close associate of the powerful eunuch Wang Shoucheng, when the imperial censor Li Kuan () submitted an accusation against Zheng in late 833, he had the accusation suppressed. In spring 834, he was given the additional titles of acting Sikong, Menxia Shilang (門下侍郎, the deputy head of the examination bureau), imperial scholar at Hongwen Pavilion (), and the director of Taiqing Palace (). When Emperor Wenzong wanted to make one of the close associates of Zheng and Wang Shoucheng, Li Zhongyan, an imperial official, Wang Ya agreed despite the stern opposition of fellow chancellor Li Deyu. Li Deyu was subsequently demoted out of the capital to serve as a prefectural secretary general. In 835, due to Zheng's suggestion, Wang, despite his knowing that doing so was ill-advised, proposed an increase to the tea tax, which caused the people much distress.Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 245.
Meanwhile, without Wang's knowledge, Li Zhongyan (whose name had been changed to Li Xun by this point), Zheng, and Emperor Wenzong had been plotting to massacre the eunuchs in the palace, as Emperor Wenzong had feared the lead eunuchs' power. On December 14, 835—in an incident later known as the Ganlu IncidentBo Yang Edition of the Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 59.—Li Xun had planned to have soldiers under his associates Guo Xingyu (), Wang Fan (), Luo Liyan (), Han Yue (), and Li Xiaoben () trap the eunuchs and massacre them. However, the powerful eunuch Qiu Shiliang discovered the plot and took control of Emperor Wenzong, and the eunuchs then had the Shence Army () kill or arrest Li Xun's and Zheng's associates. Meanwhile, Wang Ya and the other chancellors were set to have lunch together at the office of the chancellors, when they received report that the Shence Army soldiers were killing everyone in their paths. The chancellors and the other officials fled on foot. Wang Ya was soon captured and taken to the Left Shence Army headquarters. He was tortured, and, unable to bear the pain, falsely stated that he and Li Xun had planned a coup to overthrow Emperor Wenzong and make Zheng emperor.