Wang Yanhan

Also known as Minsi Wang

Wang Yanhan, courtesy name Ziyi, was the eldest son of Wang Shenzhi, ruler of Min, and is described as tall, fair-skinned and somewhat lettered. When his father died at the end of 925 he took over as military governor of Weiwu and ruler of the Min region. In the tenth month of 926 he showed his officers the account of the ancient Min-Yue king Wuzhu in the *Records of the Grand Historian* (*Shiji*) and proclaimed himself King of Great Min, building palaces and appointing a full court while still acknowledging the Later Tang. He lived lavishly, filled the palace with commoners' daughters, and distrusted his brothers, sending Wang Yanjun out as prefect of Quanzhou. In January 927 Wang Shenzhi's adopted son Wang Yanbing, prefect of Jianzhou, and Wang Yanjun marched on Fuzhou; Yanbing captured him, listed his crimes and executed him outside the Zichen Gate, and Wang Yanjun took his place.