Wang Dao

Also known as Zi Maohong

Wang Dao, courtesy name Maohong, came from Linyi in Langye and, with his cousin Wang Dun, was the chief support of Sima Rui. Early in the Yongjia era he persuaded Sima Rui to move his base to Jianye and won over southern families such as those of Gu Rong and He Xun. When Sima Rui took the imperial title in 318 he invited Wang Dao to share the throne; Wang declined, and people said that the Wangs and the Simas shared the realm. When Wang Dun marched on Jiankang in 322, Wang Dao led his kinsmen to the palace gate each morning to await punishment and was spared; when Wang Dun rose again in 324 he took command against him. He served Emperors Yuan, Ming and Cheng, lived through the Su Jun rebellion and died in 339 aged sixty-four, named Wenxian. On learning that Zhou Yi, killed by Wang Dun, had once pleaded for him, he lamented that Zhou had died because of him.