Wang Qinruo (c. 962 – 22 December 1025), courtesy name Dingguo, was an official in China's Northern Song Dynasty. He was the chancellor from 1017 to 1019 during Emperor Zhenzong's reign and from 1023 to 1025 during Emperor Renzong's reign.
Wang Qinruo (王欽若)
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| Grand Councilor of the Song dynasty | |
| In office August 28, 1017 – July 13, 1019 | |
| Monarch | Emperor Zhenzong |
| In office September 22, 1023 – April 27, 1024[1] | |
| Monarch | Emperor Renzong |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 962 or January 963[2] Xinyu, Southern Tang |
| Died | December 22, 1025(1025-12-22) (aged 62–63)[3] Kaifeng, Song dynasty |
| Spouse | Lady Li (李) |
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| Parent |
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| Posthumous name | Wenmu (文穆) |
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| Wang Qinruo | |||||||||
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| Traditional Chinese | 王欽若 | ||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 王钦若 | ||||||||
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| Wang Dingguo | |||||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 王定國 | ||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 王定国 | ||||||||
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Wang Qinruo led the compilation of Prime Tortoise of the Record Bureau, an important encyclopedia.
Wang Qinruo had a few very unpopular proposals, including moving the capital to southern China. Moreover, he appeared to have a personal vendetta against the upright official Kou Zhun and tried hard to have the latter demoted. History of Song recorded that Emperor Renzong believed Wang Qinruo treacherous, and that during his time Wang Qinruo was nicknamed by the population as one of the "Five Devils", along with Ding Wei, Lin Te (林特), Chen Pengnian (陳彭年) and Liu Chenggui (劉承珪).
In the popular legends of Generals of the Yang Family, the antagonist Wang Qin (王欽) is based on Wang Qinruo. In some versions Wang Qin is even a spy from the Liao Dynasty.