Wang Ya (c. 765¡Ð835)

An avid collector of old books and scrolls of which he had tens of thousands, Wang gained the jinshi degree in 792. He enjoyed a successful career in government and rose to the post of Minister of Works. In 835, however, he was involved in a power struggle against the clique led by the eunuch Qiu Shiliang (781¡Ð843) which led to the execution of over 1,000 officials. Wang was among them.

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