Wang Ben 王おう賁

Wang Ben 王おう賁, courtesy name Dian 典てん, was a general of the state of Qin 秦はた during the late Warring States period 戰國せんごく (5th cent.-221 BCE). He was a son of general Wang Jian 王おう翦.

In 227, Wang Ben took over the first command during a campaign against the state of Chu 楚すわえ in which he seized more than ten towns. In 225 he attacked the state of Wei 魏ぎ, a campaign in which he inundated the capital of Wei, Daliang 大だい梁はり, and so forced King Jia of Wei 魏ぎ王おう假かり (r. 228-225) to surrender his kingdom.

In 222, Wang Ben campaigned against Yan 燕つばめ and advanced as far as the region of Liaodong 遼東りゃおとん, where he captured King Xi of Yan 燕つばめ王おう喜き (r. 255-222). Afterwards he was also able to capture the last prince of the kingdom of Zhao 趙ちょう who had founded the kingdom of Dai, as King Jia of Dai 代だい王おう嘉よしみ (r. 228-222).

The only surviving state of the former Zhou empire 周しゅう (11th cent.-221 BCE) was the kingdom of Qi 齊ひとし. Wang Ben was also able to capture King Jian of Qi 齊ひとし王おう建けん (r. 265-221) and so substantially contributed to the foundation of the empire of Qin 秦はた (221-206 BCE).

He was therefore rewarded with the title of Marquis Tongwu 通どおり武たけ侯こう (or Marquis Wuling 武たけ陵りょう侯こう). His tomb can be found in the village of Qiankou 千せん口くち村むら, township Meiyuan 美原みはら鎮, in the district of Fuping 富平とみひら縣けん, Shaanxi.