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Wang Ao
Ming Grand Secretary from Wu county in Suzhou, courtesy name Jizhi, a jinshi with third place who was known for incorruptibility and posthumously titled Wenke.
In a council hall, a long table holds an unrolled map scroll, a brass-cornered chest and a brush pot, with tall-backed chairs around it and a bronze lamp at the left; a figure stands with their back turned on the balcony at the right, with palace roofs beyond.
Also known as Jizhi · Shouxi · Master of Zhenze
Wang Ao, courtesy name Jizhi and styled Shouxi, known as Master of Zhenze, was from East Dongting Mountain in Wu county, Suzhou, and lived from 1450 to 1524. He topped both the provincial and metropolitan examinations in 1474 and 1475 and placed third in the palace examination, then served in the Hanlin Academy, as vice minister of personnel and as Minister of Revenue and Grand Secretary. In the Zhengde years he and Han Wen petitioned in vain to execute Liu Jin, and he retired in 1509. Called the poorest Grand Secretary under heaven for his integrity, he was titled Wenke and left the Zhenze changyu, Zhenze bian and Gusu zhi.
Life and times
Dates 1450 CE–1524 CE