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The term "wang" (王) is a Chinese title that historically denoted a ruler or a prince of high rank. Before the 3rd century BCE, it specifically referred to a ruler, and afterward, it signified a prince of elevated status.1

Notable figures with this title include Wuwang, the founder of the Zhou dynasty in the 11th century BCE, who is remembered as a wise king. The term can also refer to individuals like Wang Zhen, a powerful eunuch in the Ming dynasty, or be part of the names of renowned artists, such as the "Four Wangs," prominent landscape painters of the early Qing period.234

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4 Britannica Sources
  1. wang
  2. Wuwang
  3. Wang Zhen
  4. Four Wangs

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