Wang Fan

Wang Fan (228–266), courtesy name Yongyuan, was a Chinese astronomer, mathematician, politician, and writer of the state of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period of China. Life Wang Fan was from Lujiang Commandery, which is located southwest of present-day Lujiang County, Anhui. He started his career in Wu as a Gentleman of Writing during the reign of the first Wu emperor Sun Quan or second Wu emperor Sun Liang, but was dismissed from office. During the reign of the third Wu emperor Sun Xiu, Wang Fan served as a Central Regular Mounted Attendant alongside He Shao, Xue Ying and Yu Si, and was given an additional appointment as a Chief Commandant of Escorting Cavalry. He received much praise from his contemporaries. When the Wu government sent him as an ambassador to Wu's ally state, Shu, he was also highly regarded by the Shu government. Upon returning to Wu, he served as a military supervisor at the Wu military garrison in Xiakou. During the reign of the fourth and last Wu emperor Sun Hao, Wang Fan became a Regular Attendant alongside Wan Yu. Although he was initially close to Sun Hao, he gradually became alienated from the emperor as other officials slandered him in front of the emperor and as he became more outspoken against the emperor's outrageous behaviour. In 266, he offended Sun Hao and ended up losing his head. Sun Hao also exiled his family to the remote Guang Province in the south. Lu Kai, the Imperial Chancellor of Wu during Sun Hao's reign, lamented Wang Fan's unfortunate end.