Wang Bodang

Wang Bodang was a general in Wagang Army which rebelled in Sui dynasty. He is also a highly celebrated and praised figure in Chinese popular culture because of his bravery and loyalty.

Wang Bodang
王伯当
Personal details
Bornunknown
Hejin
Died619
Xiong'er Mountain near Luoyang
OccupationLeader of peasant uprising in Sui dynasty
In this Chinese name, the family name is Wang.

In history

Wang Bodang was born in Yitang, a village in Hejin of Shanxi. When the Sui dynasty began to dissolve during Emperor Yang's reign, Wang Bodang led a small-scaled peasant uprising in Jiyang (near the county of Lankao today). Later, Wang Bodang and his peasant force joined Wagang Army, one of the most powerful peasant rebellion armies at that time. Wang was promoted to be a top general in Wagang.

During the internal authority shift of Wagang Army in 617, Wang Bodang supported Li Mi and helped Li Mi to murder Zhai Rang, the previous leader of Wagang Army. Since then, Wang Bodang was one of the closest followers to Li Mi. In 618, when Li Mi was leading the main force of Wagang Army to attack warlord Wang Shichong, Wang Bodang was the general to guard the fort of Jinyong, the headquarter of Wagang Army.[1]

Li Mi was defeated by Wang Shichong during the war and many other generals of Wagang Army, including Pei Xingyan, Luo Shixin, Cheng Yaojin, Shan Xiongxin and Qin Shubao, surrendered to Wang Shichong. Wang Bodang decided to stay with Li Mi. When Li Mi was trying to suicide, Wang stopped him. He suggested that Li Mi should go west and submit to the newly-established Tang dynasty. Li Mi took his advise. Wang Bodang also promised that he would always be a follower to Li Mi no matter what happened.[2]

In 619, Li Mi planned to break away from Tang dynasty and establish his own regime again.[3] Wang Bodang thought that they had no chance to succeed, so he argued with Li Mi. However, Li Mi still determined to continue with his plan.[4] On January 19 of 619, when they were heading towards Xiangcheng to meet their previous ally Zhang Shanxiang, Li Mi and Wang Bodang were ambushed by Tang's army led by Sheng Yanshi (the general of Tang guarding Xiongzhou) at Xiong'er Mountain near Luoyang. Both Li Mi and Wang Bodang were killed.[5]

In folk tales about Wagang Army, Wang Bodang's stories are generally very close to the real history. However, in addition to real stories, he is also said to be one of the best archers at his time. In some versions of the legend, Wang Bodang likes wearing white clothes, and thus has a nickname of The Bowman in White. Ironically, in those legends, Wang Bodang was killed by arrows at Xiong'er Mountain, although there is no clear document indicating how exactly he was killed by Sheng Yanshi in real history.

References
  1. New Book of Tang: 明日，密留王伯当守金墉，自引精兵出偃师，北阻邙山待之。
  2. New Book of Tang: 时王伯当弃金墉屯河阳，密轻骑归之，谓曰：“败矣，久苦诸君，我今自刎以谢众！”伯当抱密恸绝，众皆泣，莫能仰视。密复曰：“幸不相弃，当共归关中，密虽无功，诸君必富贵。”掾柳燮曰：“昔盆子归汉，尚食均输。公与唐同族，虽不共起，然遏隋归路，使无西，故唐不战而据京师，亦公功也。”密又谓伯当曰：“将军族重，岂复与孤俱行哉？”伯当曰：“昔萧何举宗从汉，今不昆季尽行，以为愧。岂公一失利，轻去就哉？虽陨首穴胸，所甘已。”左右感动，遂来归。
  3. New Book of Tang: 因朝会进食，谓王伯当曰：“往在洛口，尝欲以崔君贤为光禄，不意身自为此。”
  4. New Book of Tang: 伯当止之，不从，乃曰：“士立义，不以存亡易虑。公顾伯当厚，愿毕命以报。今可同往，死生以之，然无益也。”
  5. New Book of Tang: 熊州副将盛彦师率步骑伏陆浑县南邢公岘之下，密兵度，横出击，斩之，年三十七，伯当俱死，传首京师。
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