生平

王觀自少孤貧但有志氣，後得到曹操召為丞相文學掾，又先後出任高唐、酇縣和任縣縣令，在當地都有治蹟和稱許。黃初元年，曹丕稱帝，漢朝被取代。王觀任尚書郎、廷尉監。後又先後出任南陽和涿郡太守。

當時涿郡在北方邊境，與鮮卑勢力範圍接壤，於是多次遭到鮮卑族進攻搶掠，王觀於是命令當地邊境的人每十家人以上就一起屯居，並修築京候以防備侵擾。當時有人不願作這些工事，王觀則派當地官員回鄉協助他們修築，並不設下期限，只要待完成後回來就可。當時的官民因而都十分齊心，很快就建好了這些防禦工事，而且因為守備得當，那些搶掠事件亦沒有了。王觀任官以身作則，清廉樸素，下屬都承襲上司王觀的作風。

後來魏明帝召王觀為治書侍御史，典行臺獄。太尉司馬懿後來更請王觀出任他的從事中郎，後先後轉職尚書、河南尹和少府。

明帝死後，輔政的大將軍曹爽專權，生活奢侈，曾命材官張達銷毀一些其府中木材和一些私人物品，王觀知道後不畏曹爽權勢，將張達免職。另少府屬下三個尚方御府內有很多珍奇玩物，曹爽常常要求取用，但又害怕王觀的守法不阿，最終將王觀調任太僕，以方便自己取利。

正始十年（249年），司馬懿發動高平陵之變，以奪取朝廷大權，王觀亦被任命為行中領軍，佔據曹爽弟弟、中領軍曹羲的軍營並接管其軍隊。曹爽投降被斬殺後，王觀因功爵關內侯，復任尚書，加駙馬都尉。

正元元年（254年），曹芳被廢，曹髦繼位為帝，王觀進封中鄉亭侯。後加光祿大夫，轉任尚書右僕射。

景元元年（260年），魏元帝曹奐繼位，進封陽鄉侯，於六月癸亥日（7月6日）遷任司空。但上任數日後即辭官回家休養，同年十月在家中逝世，死後下令節葬。諡肅侯。

性格特徵

• 王觀為人無私，明帝即位後命各郡縣評為劇、中和平三級，王觀此時正擔任涿郡太守。主者建議王觀上奏涿郡為中或平，王觀則稱涿郡靠近邊境，鮮卑時常侵犯，應該說是劇。主者說如果郡被評為劇，那太守就要送質子。王觀說要為讓在邊境受外虜侵擾的人少有遙役才如實稱劇，寧願送質子到鄴城也不可以有負人民。最總王觀還是上奏涿郡為劇，並派他唯一而幼弱的兒子到鄴城作質子。

子女

• 王悝，嗣子，咸熙年間改封膠東子。

Life

Wang Guan lost his parents early.

Cao Cao summoned him to serve as a Writing Assistant in the Imperial Chancellor's office. Later, he was reassigned to serve as the County Prefect (縣令) of Gaotang (高唐), Yangquan (陽泉), Zan (酂) and Ren (任) counties.

When Cao Pi ascended the throne, Wang Guan was recalled to the capital to serve as a Gentleman of Writing (尚書郎) and Supervising Judge (廷尉監). Afterwards, he was appointed as the Administrator (太守) of Nanyang (南陽) and Zhuo (涿) commanderies. There he built a reputation of defending local people from invasions by Xianbei tribes.

When a government inspector came to check the state of his administration, Wang Guan volunteered to degrade his grade on the ground that his region was under the threat of the Xianbei, and endured the penalty of sending his own child to the capital as a hostage. Before long, he entered the capital and became a judge presiding over trials.

When Cao Fang ascended the throne, although Cao Shuang wielded absolute authority, Wang Guan enforced laws with rigour so that Wang Guan confronted Cao Shuang's associates several times. As Cao Shuang felt uncomfortable with Wang Guan for this reason, he demoted Wang Guan to Minister Coachman (太僕).

When Sima Yi launched a coup in 249, Wang Guan participated the coup by becoming a temporary general, the Central Commander of the Army (中領軍), the position of Cao Xi (曹羲). After Cao Shuang was executed, Wang Guan received the title of a Secondary Marquis and was appointed as a Master of Writing (尚書) and Chief Commandant of Escorting Cavalry.

In 254, Cao Fang was deposed. Wang Guan was promoted to Marquis of Zhongxiang Village and made a Household Counsellor (光祿大夫) and Left Supervisor of the Masters of Writing (尚書左僕射).

In 260, Cao Mao was killed and Cao Huan ascended the throne. Wang Guan was enfeoffed as the Marquis of Yang District and appointed as Minister of Works (司空). He died several days later.