生平

早年事迹

王朗曾以通晓经籍而拜郎中，任灾丘县长。后因老师杨赐逝世而弃官服丧。及后获举孝廉，被徵辟，都不应命。

与琅琊人赵昱、彭城人张昭为好友。徐州刺史陶谦举为茂才，任徐州治中从事。当时汉献帝被董卓劫持到长安，王朗与别驾赵昱建议陶谦遗使向皇帝表示对汉室的支持，陶谦听从并命赵昱带著奏章到长安。献帝接到奏章后赞赏并升陶谦为徐州牧、安东将军；赵昱和王朗都获升迁，王朗被任命为会稽太守。

治理会稽

王朗到会稽后见当地人民仍然祭祀秦始皇，并且与夏禹同庙。王朗认为秦始皇是暴君，不配获得人民祭祀，于是取缔为淫祀。在任四年，获得当地人民爱戴。

建安元年（196年），横扫江东的孙策率兵进攻会稽，王朗的功曹虞翻建议避其锋锐，但王朗不接纳，坚持要守护城池到底，领兵对抗，最后被孙策击败。

于是王朗逃跑到东治，侯官县长商升为王朗起兵。孙策派遣韩晏攻打东治，商升击败韩。孙策再派贺齐攻打侯官，商升被贺齐威名震慑，意欲出降，被属下将帅张雅、詹强背叛斩杀，继而引发内乱，终被贺齐平定。

王朗打算逃到交州，出海到东冶时遭孙策追击，唯有投降。孙策因敬重王朗而不加害，亦曾派张昭劝王朗归顺，但王朗坚决不肯。

回归朝廷

后来曹操上表徵召王朗，王朗由曲阿出发，但因为久经战乱而道路不通，辗转数年才到任。王朗先被任命为谏议大夫，参司空军事。建安十八年（213年），曹操受封魏公并以十郡建立魏国，王朗以军祭酒身份领魏郡太守；后历任少府、奉常、大理。王朗处理事务在于宽恕犯罪者，控罪有疑点时判罚都会从轻，因而与锺繇一起以治狱而知名。

延康元年（220年），曹丕继任魏王，王朗迁任御史大夫，封安陵亭侯，曾进言劝减轻刑狱，转以扶助幼弱，帮助人民休养生息。同年，曹丕受献帝禅让称帝，改官名为司空，进封乐平乡侯。不久吴蜀夷陵之战爆发，有人认为应该举兵支援称藩的东吴，并一举吞灭蜀汉，但王朗认为应该等待两军相持不下时才领兵支持，并派持重的将领攻蜀军要害之处，一举决胜；而当时东吴尚未起兵，而且经常下雨，不利于行军，于是反对，曹丕听从。后来曹丕徵召孙权长子孙登为东中郎将（实为人质），但孙登没有来，曹丕于是到许昌大兴屯田，打算进攻东吴；王朗听闻孙权的回答未到，若发兵后孙登来到，影响甚大，于是反对出兵，建议增强边境戍守，预防东吴进攻。当时曹丕以已成军而出征吴国，而孙登始终没有来，曹丕进军至长江后战事不利，撤回。

太和元年（227年），魏明帝即位，封兰陵侯，增邑五百户，共计一千二百户，后转任司徒。曾上书谏止营造宫室。次年（228年）十一月去世，諡成侯。由儿子王肃袭爵。

正始四年（243年），成为魏太祖庙第二次祭祀的功臣之一。

正始六年十二月辛亥日（246年1月9日），曹芳诏故司徒王朗所作易传，令学者得以课试。

性格特徵

• 《魏书》有此描述：朗高才儒雅，而性严整慷慨，多威仪，恭俭节约，自婚姻中表礼贽无所受。常讥世俗有好施之名，而不恤穷贱，故用财以周急为先。

• 王朗被孙策安置在曲阿后，虽然穷困，朝不保夕，但仍然接济亲人旧友。

• 王朗年轻时与沛国名士刘阳结交。刘阳曾因见汉室衰微而曹操甚有野心，恐怕曹操会夺权，曾打算刺杀曹操，但没有成事。后曹操任司空(196年)，掌握大权，而当时刘阳已死，曹操则通缉他的嗣子。刘阳亲属旧友虽然多，但没有一个敢收容他，而王朗却收容了他数年，见曹操后又多次代为开解。最后曹操才赦免他。

• 沛相袁忠以清亮著称，避乱客居会稽，见王朗从属衣著奢华，心存嫌恶，于是托病不与王朗交往。

• 文帝时分王朗食邑，要封他一子为列侯，王朗却求文帝封他兄长的儿子王详。

• 《世说新语》纪录有一篇与王朗有关的故事：某日王朗与华歆同乘一船逃难，半路遇一人亦为逃难而请求上船，虽然华歆觉得为难，但王朗仍让他上船；稍后盗贼乘船追来，其势甚紧，王朗害怕船行太慢被盗贼追上，想赶此人下船，结果华歆反而出面阻止王朗：「我之所以疑虑，正是考虑到会有这个情况。但既然已经接纳了他，又怎么可以因为情势危急就抛弃他呢？」便依然像当初一样带他继续逃难。世人遂以此评断王、华两人德行高低的比较。

小说中的形象

在《三国演义》中，王朗以会稽太守的身分初次登场。在孙策打败吴郡的严白虎之后节节进逼，基于唇亡齿寒的原因，力排众议接纳了逃亡的严白虎，但遭到虞翻的反对。之后派遣大将周昕与孙策作战失败，自知不敌孙策而向中原逃亡。

逃亡至中原后，受到曹操的赏识在朝中任职。在此之后则成为极力帮助曹操夺权的得力助手，与华歆等人联手，使曹操得以晋升至魏公、魏王的位子。曹操死后则威逼汉献帝禅让帝位与曹丕，成为魏国建立的一大功臣。

诸葛亮北伐时，王朗不顾已经76岁之高龄，与曹真等人于祁山迎战诸葛亮。在阵前与诸葛亮挑起舌战，然而被诸葛亮的言词所驳倒，一时气愤而自马背上摔落而死。被称为「武乡侯骂死王朗」。

家庭

妻子

杨夫人

子

• 王肃，嗣子，曹魏中领军，三国时儒学大师。

根据王朗写给许靖的信，他有一子一女早亡，只有两子在世，即时年二十九岁的王肃和一岁多的幼子。《郯城县志》记载王朗有一女儿被送到青山庵出家为尼，不知是否就是这个早亡女儿。

孙

• 王恽，王肃嗣子，死时无子而国除。

• 王恂，王恽死后封国撤除，景元四年（263年）重新后获封兰陵侯。

• 王虔，字恭祖，曾任平东将军、光禄勋和尚书等职。有子王康、王隆，仕亦宦达，为后世所重。

• 王元姬，嫁给司马昭，即文明皇后，成为司马炎与司马攸兄弟的生母。

• 王恺，王肃子，西晋外戚，身份显贵，十分富有，且性格奢侈，曾与晋朝富豪石崇斗富。

侄

• 王详，王朗兄长之子，曹丕在位时曾经让王朗从自己封邑中分出一部分，封一个儿子为列侯，但是王朗却请封王详。

部下

• 虞翻，会稽名士，王朗为会稽太守时，任命虞翻为功曹。

• 周昕，会稽周氏三兄弟的长兄，在孙策出兵攻打会稽时，周昕率军抵御孙策，战死沙场。

• 韩晏，永宁长，孙策将韩晏改任为南部都尉，永宁改由贺齐镇守。孙策派韩晏征讨侯官长商升，被商升击败。

• 商升，侯官长，在王朗逃到东冶时，商升为王朗起兵，并击败了孙策派遣的永宁长韩晏。后来得知永宁改由贺齐镇守，因其威名最终决定投降。但部下张雅、詹强等人并不愿意商升投降，所以合谋将商升反杀。

• 张雅、詹强，商升将帅，二人杀害商升后，张雅自称无上将军，詹强自称会稽太守。后来张雅与女婿何强因争地而互相猜忌，贺齐乘机以反间计从中挑拨，一战击破张雅，詹强亦望风而降。

相关人物

• 杨赐，东汉名臣，王朗老师。王朗曾以通晓经籍而拜郎中，任灾丘县长。后因老师杨赐逝世而弃官服丧。

• 赵昱，琅琊人，东汉名士，王朗好友。被迫出任陶谦别驾从事。

• 张昭，彭城人，东汉名士，王朗好友。拒绝陶谦徵召而下狱，为赵昱所救。

• 刘阳，沛国名士，年轻时与王朗结交。曾看出曹操将会夺权，因而计划暗杀曹操，但没成事就死去。曹操任司空后要捉拿刘阳之子，当时只有王朗敢收留其子，并代为求情，曹操最终放过刘阳之子。

• 袁忠，故沛相，以高洁清廉著称，避乱客居会稽上虞。见太守王朗随从衣著奢侈，心感嫌恶，从此托病与王朗断绝来往。孙策破会稽后，袁忠从海路出走交趾。

Early life and career

Wang Lang was from Tan County, Donghai Commandery, which is around present-day Tancheng County, Shandong. His original given name was "Yan" (严) but he changed it to "Lang" (朗) later. He started his career as a Palace Gentleman (郎中) due to his academic proficiency, particularly with the Chinese Classics. When his teacher Yang Ci died, he left his post and went back to his home county to mourn him. Later, he served Tao Qian, the Governor of Xu Province, where he advised Tao Qian and several other warlords to pledge allegiance to Emperor Xian, citing the Spring and Autumn Annals. Tao Qian then sent an envoy to the Han central government in Chang'an to pledge allegiance to the Emperor, and in return received the appointment "General Calming the East". The Han central government also appointed Wang Lang as the Administrator of Kuaiji Commandery.

As a warlord

During Wang Lang's tenure as Administrator of Kuaiji Commandery, Wang Lang banned the worship of Qin Shi Huang, a widespread custom among locals, believing that he was a ruler without virtue. Wang also formed a secret alliance with the Shanyue tribes. When the warlord Sun Ce started his Jiangdong campaign, Wang Lang financed the Shanyue leader Yan Baihu to fight Sun Ce, but Yan Baihu and the other Shanyue clan leaders lost to Sun Ce; at the time, Liu Yao, another warlord in the Jiangdong region, had also lost to Sun Ce in battle. Yan Baihu had become the head of a loose confederation composed of bandits and local officials, including Wang Lang, and he again gathered soldiers numbering tens of thousands. Despite opposition from his adviser Yu Fan, Wang Lang directly joined Yan Baihu in military operations against Sun Ce's forces, but they were defeated.

Wang Lang then escaped to Dongye. There, he gained the support from the Chief of Houguan (侯官长) and attempted to rebuild his power with support from Zhang Ya, a rebel leader with a strong army. They succeeded in killing Han Yan, the Commandant of the Southern Region (南部都尉) appointed by Sun Ce, but were ultimately defeated by He Qi, a general under Sun Ce.

Wang Lang tried to go further south to Jiao Province to recuperate, but was caught up and defeated by Sun Ce. He then conducted a very humble speech to appease Sun Ce, who later accepted his surrender.

Service in Wei

Despite surrendering, Wang Lang entered into a self-imposed retirement from public life, refusing Zhang Zhao's request to serve Sun Ce. Eventually he was contacted by one of Cao Cao's spies and was asked to join Cao Cao in the new imperial capital, Xuchang, where the Han central government was based. Although he was initially hesitant, he became convinced after reading a letter from his old friend, Kong Rong, who praised Cao Cao and urged him to go to Xuchang. Thus, he travelled north and reached Xuchang about a year later. Cao Cao highly valued Wang Lang's talent and appointed him as Critical Grandee, and Advisor to the Army of the Excellency of Works. Wang Lang later served in key appointments in Cao Cao's vassal kingdom of Wei after the latter was enfeoffed as a vassal king by Emperor Xian, the last emperor of the Han dynasty. In 220, after Cao Cao's death, his son Cao Pi became king, promoting Wang Lang as Censorate Grandee and enfeoffed him as Marquis of Yueping Village. Later that winter, the Emperor abdicated in favor of Cao Pi, who established the state of Cao Wei to replace the Han dynasty. After becoming the emperor, Cao Pi appointed Wang Lang as the Minister of Works and enfeoffed him as the Marquis of Anling Precinct. During Cao Pi's reign, Wang Lang made several suggestions regarding both military and civilian matters, such as security and the reduction of the state's employees and expenditures.

In 226, when Cao Rui came to the throne, he promoted Wang Lang from a district marquis to a county marquis under the title "Marquis of Lanling", increasing his marquisate to 1,700 taxable households, from his previous 1,200.

Wang Lang was later sent to Ye (in present-day Handan, Hebei) to visit the tomb of Empress Wenzhao, Cao Rui's mother. She had yet to be canonized as Empress at that point, so Wang Lang was given the tally and document that permitted him to do so, as well as the proper sacrificial animals for this. A special tomb was to be built for her as well. During his visit, he saw the populace was short on material; thus, he wrote to advise Cao Rui to be frugal, and to reduce the scale of the building of his extravagant palaces and ancestral temples.

Wang Lang was later promoted to the position of Minister over the Masses.

Late life and death

After Wang Lang objected to Cao Rui's palace-building project, he noticed that Cao Rui had a small imperial harem and wrote to Cao Rui stating that an emperor should have more concubines in order to continue the imperial bloodline with more offspring. This time, Cao Rui wholeheartedly agreed with Wang Lang and started expanding the size of his imperial harem. Wang's advice had a profound influence: Nine years after Wang Lang's death, Cao Rui even ordered beautiful married women all be formally seized unless their husbands were able to ransom them, and that they would be married to soldiers instead – except that the most beautiful among them would become his concubines. Despite protests from some officials, this decree was apparently carried out, much to the distress of his people.

Wang Lang later focused on academic works and had published several books that were well received at the time. He died in 228 and was given the posthumous title "Marquis Cheng" (成侯), literally meaning "marquis of establishment". He was succeeded by his son Wang Su, who continued serving as an official in Wei.

In Romance of the Three Kingdoms

In the 14th-century historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Wang Lang died at the age of 76 in 228. Despite his age, he led a group of soldiers and set up camp to do battle with Zhuge Liang. In the novel, Cao Zhen was defeated by Zhuge Liang. Cao Zhen called for his subordinates to help, and Wang Lang decided to try and persuade him to surrender (even though Guo Huai was sceptical that it would succeed) and engaged Zhuge Liang in a debate, but was soundly defeated. Zhuge Liang among other things scolded him as a dog and a traitor, from the shock of which he fell off his horse and died on the spot. There is no record of this in history, and instead, it is said that he merely sent a letter to Zhuge Liang recommending that he surrender. The letter was ignored.

Legacy

A famous story of Wang Lang was recorded in A New Account of the Tales of the World: