Fu Jia was an official of Cao Wei. Wikidata's simplified Chinese label is Fu Jia, and the English label is Fu Jia. The Records of the Three Kingdoms say his courtesy name was Lanshi and that he was from Niyang in Beidi, a descendant of Fu Jiezi. The cited encyclopedia also records the courtesy name Zhaoxian. Both accounts stand, so the title stays Fu Jia. This entry dates him from 209 to 255, records his realm as Cao Wei and the Eastern Han, records him as a political figure, and places his birthplace at Yaozhou District.[1][2][3]
Entry into office
He was already known around the age of twenty. Chen Qun, minister of works, appointed him to his staff. When Liu Shao, cavalier attendant, proposed a law for appraising officials and the matter was sent to the three offices, Fu Jia objected. He argued that Wei, coming after Qin and Han, could not yet judge men by the ancient system, that selection already rested with the ministry of personnel, and that an appraisal set up first would not separate the worthy from the foolish. At the start of Zhengshi he became a gentleman of the masters of writing and then gentleman-attendant of the yellow gate. Cao Shuang held power, and He Yan was minister of personnel. Fu Jia told Cao Xi, Cao Shuang's brother, that He Yan looked quiet and was inwardly sharp and greedy, and that he would first mislead the brothers, drive good men away, and ruin the court. He Yan turned against him and had him dismissed over a small matter. He was then made governor of Xingyang and did not go. Sima Yi, the grand tutor, made him attendant gentleman. After Cao Shuang was killed he became governor of Henan and then a master of writing. He often thought the offices since Qin and Han differed from antiquity and wanted to correct them from the root, and he also said the imperial house had too many troubles for the change to be made. The encyclopedia adds that in his youth he refused the friendship of He Yan, Deng Yang, and Xiahou Xuan. Xun Can thought this strange. Fu Jia said the three were corrupt in conduct and that closeness would later implicate him.[3][2]
The debate on attacking Wu
Some proposed an attack on Wu. Wang Chang, Hu Zun, and Guanqiu Jian memorialized, each with a different plan. An edict asked Fu Jia. He opposed an immediate crossing of the Yangtze. He thought the sounder course was to advance military colonies, press the enemy, and strike when a gap appeared. Sima Biao's Strategies records the reply at greater length, including seven advantages. The court did not follow him. In the eleventh month of that year Wang Chang and the others were ordered out, and in the first month of the next year Zhuge Ke smashed the Wei army at Dongguan. Zhuge Ke then announced that he would move toward Qing and Xu. Fu Jia said the sea was not a road for a light advance. When Sun Quan had sent troops to sea they were almost all lost, and Zhuge Ke would not stake his root on the flood. At most he would send a wing commander used to naval war up the Huai as a feint and bring his own mass toward Huainan. Zhuge Ke did attack Xincheng and went home without taking it.[3]
Last years
He often discussed whether talent and nature were the same or different, and Zhong Hui collected the discussion. At the end of Jiaping he was made a marquis within the passes. When Cao Mao, the duke of Gaogui district, took the throne, Fu Jia was advanced to Marquis of Wuxiang. In the spring Guanqiu Jian and Wen Qin rebelled. Some said Sima Shi should not go himself and that the grand commandant Sima Fu could be sent. Only Fu Jia and Wang Su urged Sima Shi to go. Sima Shi went east, left Fu Jia as acting vice director of the masters of writing, and took him along. The rebels were defeated, and Fu Jia had a part in the plans. When Sima Shi died, Fu Jia and Sima Zhao returned directly to Luoyang, and Sima Zhao thus took the regency. The details are in the biography of Zhong Hui. Zhong Hui then looked pleased with himself. Fu Jia warned him that his ambition was larger than his capacity, that such merit was hard to complete, and that he must be careful. For his service Fu Jia was advanced to Marquis of Yangxiang. His fief grew by six hundred households, one thousand two hundred with what he already held. He died that year at forty-seven, was posthumously made minister of ceremonies, and was titled Marquis Yuan. His son Fu Zhi succeeded. When the five ranks were opened in the Xianxi years, Fu Zhi was re-enfeoffed as Viscount of Jingyuan because of Fu Jia's merit in the previous reign.[3]
Basic facts
- Name: Fu Jia[3]
- Courtesy name: Lanshi; the encyclopedia also records Zhaoxian[3][2]
- Dates recorded on this entry: 209–255; the Records say he died that year at forty-seven[1][3]
- Realm recorded on this entry: Cao Wei and the Eastern Han[1]
- Birthplace: Yaozhou District[1]
- Occupation recorded on this entry: political figure[1]
- Posthumous title: Marquis Yuan[3]
- Portrayal: Fu Jia (a character in Romance of the Three Kingdoms)