生平

衛瓘十歲時，父親就去世，表現至孝過人，承襲父親閔鄉侯爵位。成年後，當上尚書郎。尚書臺是權力中心，而彼時曹魏法度嚴苛、政派不一，母親陳氏很擔心他身居此位會得罪人，故衛瓘自求轉任通事郎，後又轉中書郎。入仕十年間，曹魏歷經權臣專政，衛瓘卻能巧妙在之間遊走，不過份親近任何一方，也做得稱職，傅嘏因而看重衛瓘，稱他是甯武子。以後累經升遷，升任散騎常侍。魏元帝即位後，衛瓘轉任侍中，持節慰勞河北。後轉廷尉卿，因通明法理，每參聽訟案，不論案情大小都必依實情處理。

克蜀平叛

景元四年（263年），司馬昭命征西將軍鄧艾、鎮西將軍鍾會等領兵攻伐蜀漢，衛瓘時以廷尉卿持節監（察）鄧艾、鍾會軍事，行鎮西軍司，並受命統兵一千人。同年，鄧艾在鍾會大軍遭姜維阻於劍閣之際，經陰平小道徑取成都，並接受後主劉禪投降，滅掉蜀漢。但鄧艾建立滅蜀功勳後，致力使局勢穩固的措施在朝中被視為獨斷專行，尤以未經直屬上司司馬昭允准而任命臨時官員。鄧艾時向司馬昭建議一些懷柔蜀漢遺民的措施籠絡東吳，司馬昭透過衛瓘向鄧艾說：「這些人事任命等相關事宜應當先向朝廷通報，不適合自己專斷而立即實行。」但鄧艾請求司馬昭考慮到「不能為常規失掉適當時機」。但鄧艾未料這樣的行為受到正嫉妒鄧艾滅蜀之功及自己私下懷有野心的鍾會利用，於是鍾會模仿鄧艾的筆跡，改寫了鄧艾寄給司馬昭書信的措辭，令司馬昭開始懷疑鄧艾有不臣之心，然後鍾會繼之聯合衞瓘、胡烈及師纂等人一同寫信向司馬昭密報鄧艾有反心。

景元五年（264年），司馬昭經由朝廷下詔以檻車收捕鄧艾，並押解回京審判。司馬昭擔心鄧艾抗命，於是下令鍾會率軍成都協助逮捕，但鍾會卻先派遣兵力較弱的衛瓘在他之前到成都收擒鄧艾，打算借鄧艾之手殺了他，以坐實鄧艾的謀反。衛瓘深知此行兇險，但因自己身任監軍，職責所在不能拒絕，唯有出發。衛瓘半夜到達成都後，向鄧艾諸營將領發出檄文，表明奉詔只捉拿鄧艾一人，其餘一概不予追究，如果向官軍報到，爵位賞賜一如先前；如果膽敢不出面，就把那人誅三族。於是第二天雞鳴時，鄧艾諸將紛紛趕至衛瓘軍營中，只有不知情的鄧艾父子沒到。衞瓘於是在清晨乘車直入成都殿前，派人收捕還未睡醒的鄧艾父子。鄧艾的親信部將大怒，紛紛率隊來到衛瓘軍營喊冤。衛瓘聞訊，穿著輕裝出來迎接，隨手拿出一份寫到一半的奏章，假稱自己也正在為鄧艾申辯冤屈，鄧艾親兵見此，遂輕信了他而罷手，於是鄧艾父子皆被衛瓘收押。。

鍾會於景元五年正月十五（264年2月29日）抵達成都後，將被囚的鄧艾送走，隨即展開他的謀反行動。翌日便召集起護軍、郡守及牙門以上高級軍官，偽稱郭太后死訊並為其發喪，又以假造的郭太后遺詔起兵討伐司馬昭。鍾會派親信代領諸軍，而將召來的胡烈等魏軍將領囚禁在原蜀漢各曹屋中。衛瓘也被鍾會留住討論事項，並獲告知想殺掉胡烈等人的意圖。衞瓘斷然拒絕，造成他與鍾會彼此猜疑。衛瓘乘著上廁所的機會，將鍾會謀反的消息傳達給胡烈昔日的老部屬知道，讓他向軍隊傳播；另一方面，胡烈因鍾會帳下督丘建的幫助，得以與士兵接觸，向他們詐稱從丘建處得知鍾會已挖好土坑要坑殺所有魏軍的消息，讓此消息傳遍軍中。當時魏軍伐蜀，連年征戰在外，所有人都有思鄉之心，人心已經不穩，再得知這些消息後，眾人愈加憤怒不已，一致決定討伐鍾會，但身為監軍的衛瓘仍被鍾會留著，故他們都不敢先動。當晚，鍾會徹夜逼著衛瓘同意其作亂計劃，而衛瓘始終不開口，雙方都橫刀膝上，情勢嚴峻。鍾會乃不得已，打算派衛瓘慰勞諸軍，而這正合衛瓘心意；為了堅定鍾會意志，衛瓘故意說：「您是三軍之主，應該自己去慰勞才對。」鍾會回答：「你是監軍，你先去吧，我晚點再去。」衛瓘於是步出成都宮殿。不過鍾會很快就後悔了，派人召還衛瓘，衛瓘卻回答自己暈眩病發，還假裝倒地，但甫出殿閣，已有幾十個鍾會親信去追他。衛瓘急忙趕回官舍，隨即服下大量鹽湯，刺激身體不適，嘔吐大作。由於衛瓘向來體弱，這樣看起來就似病得很重了，鍾會所派的親信和醫者見過他後都說他快不行了，鍾會遂不再堤防衛瓘。至黃昏，衛瓘寫檄文向諸軍宣布鍾會謀反，而諸軍已有準備，於是在翌日午間各軍一同發起兵變攻襲鍾會，最終鍾會等軍戰敗，鍾會被殺。衞瓘接著重新部署諸將，經歷大亂後的魏軍又安定整肅起來。

鄧艾的部下這時情知始作俑者乃是鍾會，便又追趕囚車，要救出鄧艾，迎接他回成都。衛瓘擔心鄧艾一旦被部屬釋放，自己構陷鄧艾造反的事情會曝光，同時又想獨攬瓦解鍾會之亂的功勞，便差遣護軍田續至綿竹，搶在鄧艾諸將到達前斬殺鄧艾父子。此前，鄧艾進入江油時，田續因為地形險惡難走，不敢輕易前進，為此差點被鄧艾殺掉以提振士氣，因左右為田續求情而被赦免，由此衛瓘派遣田續追殺鄧艾時，對他說：「現在你可以報在江油受辱的仇了。」

事後，朝中議論要加封衛瓘，衛瓘稱克蜀之功是眾人的功勞，而鄧艾、鍾會二將則是自取滅亡，自己在其中雖有運用智謀，但不是領導者，故堅持不接受賞賜。之後任使持節都督關中諸軍事、鎮西將軍的職位，不久轉任都督徐州諸軍事、鎮東將軍，增封為菑陽侯。

安定幽并

西晉建立後，衛瓘升任征東將軍、進爵為菑陽公。泰始五年（269年），轉都督青州諸軍事、青州刺史，升任征東大將軍、青州牧。衛瓘先前在關中、徐州及現在青州都有政績。後泰始七年八月丙戌日（271年9月30日）轉赴任所與烏桓接壤的征北大將軍、都督幽州諸軍事、幽州刺史，領烏桓校尉。衛瓘上任後，上表分幽州立平州，最終朝廷於泰始十年（274年）置平州，並與衛瓘加都督平州。當時北方邊境東有烏桓，西有拓跋鮮卑拓跋力微，都屢有侵邊之舉。咸寧元年（275年），拓跋力微遣子拓跋沙漠汗向晉朝貢，衛瓘以沙漠汗雄異非常，慮為後患，於是上表請留沙漠汗，又請以重金賄賂鮮卑諸部大人，用以分化拓跋鮮卑，於是拓跋部中執事及外部大人都受過晉賂。衛瓘又賄賂庫賢，並以此達至分化烏桓及拓跋鮮卑的效果，終於烏桓降而拓跋力微憂死，解除邊患。

咸寧四年（278年），朝廷徵衛瓘入朝升任尚書令，加侍中。衛瓘為人嚴肅，以法御下，視諸尚書為參佐而尚書郎是掾屬。太康三年十二月甲申日（283年1月28日），衛瓘領銜司空，兼侍中及尚書令，因為政簡約更得朝野讚譽，晉武帝更下令將繁昌公主賜婚給衛瓘第四子衛宣。以後又加衛瓘領太子少傅。

晉時依曹魏行九品中正制，但衛瓘認為這根本只是權宜的制度，應該是時候恢復古時鄉里選舉人才，遂與太尉汝南王司馬亮等人上疏求廢九品中正制，言九品之制已是「中間雜染，遂計資定品，使天下觀望，唯以居位為貴，人棄德而忽道業，爭多少於錐刀之末，傷損風俗，其弊不細」；反而復古制是「使朝臣共相舉任，出才之路既博，且可以厲進賢之公心，覈在位之明闇」。晉武帝雖然同意，但還沒來得及改易制度便駕崩。

忠貞遭禍

晉武帝司馬炎早在泰始三年（267年）就立了皇子司馬衷為太子，但其實朝臣都知司馬衷並不聰明，無能力判斷政事，衛瓘也常想上陳請求改易儲君，但始終不敢直說。後來，衛瓘趁著宴會後酒醉，跪在御床前說：「臣有事想啓奏。」武帝問：「愛卿有什麼話想說？」衛瓘表現得欲言又止，然後用手摸著御牀說：「這座位真是可惜了啊！」晉武帝明白衛瓘是在暗示太子才能與資質不足以承擔帝位，遂裝糊塗說：「愛卿喝醉了吧？」衛瓘知道武帝不願更換太子，遂不敢再提此事。不過此事後被太子妃賈南風得知，衛瓘遂遭其忌恨。

太熙元年（290年），晉武帝患病，時權勢極盛的外戚楊駿與衛瓘亦不和。楊駿為了在惠帝繼位後獨專大權，便打算讓衛宣與繁昌公主離婚，進而逼令衞瓘退位離開朝廷，遂與黃門以衛宣之前有過脫序行為、敗壞皇家門聲為由，造文章謗譭他，讓晉武帝下令繁昌公主與其離婚，衛瓘亦以教子無方的過失，被逼退位，轉以沒有權利的太保還第。後來，武帝得知黃門構陷衛宣，打算讓繁昌公主與衛宣復婚，但衛宣此時已患病過世。不久，武帝去世，惠帝即位，由楊駿單獨輔政。翌年（291年），已成皇后的賈南風想除去楊駿，遂聯結司馬亮、鎮南將軍司馬瑋以及殿中中郎李肇及孟觀誅除楊駿。

衛瓘因與楊駿對立，被賈后以太保加錄尚書事拉攏，同時獲得綠綟綬，劍屐上殿、入朝不趨等禮遇，與汝南王亮一起輔政。衛瓘及司馬亮認為司馬瑋性格兇狠暴戾，不能重用，遂上奏請分遣諸王歸藩，但當時朝臣根本無人敢響應二人的建議，於是反而招來司馬瑋的怨恨。另一方面，衛瓘亦討厭楚王心腹公孫宏及歧盛，以他們品行不端為由，擔憂他們會成為禍亂，便打算收捕歧盛。歧盛知道後，與公孫宏定計，藉李肇之手假傳司馬瑋的話，向賈后中傷司馬亮及衛瓘。賈后先前已討厭衛瓘，又擔心衛瓘會成為下一個楊駿，阻礙自己專政，便順勢假惠帝之手下詔，以衛瓘、司馬亮陰謀廢立，要廢黜二人，下令司馬瑋去收捕衛瓘。

司馬瑋又另外假作詔命召集諸軍，派清河王司馬遐去收捕衛瓘，衛瓘身邊親信都懷疑司馬遐手持的詔命是假的，均勸告衛瓘自己上表問明事況。然衛瓘不聽，最終與本家子孫等九人為司馬瑋誅殺，終年七十二歲。

司馬瑋收殺衛瓘及司馬亮後，隨即就被賈南風以此為由誅殺，衛瓘女兒及菑陽國臣都上書申冤，參與收葬衛瓘的太保主簿劉繇等人亦都上書陳情，最終朝廷以衛瓘在蜀地的功勳改封他為蘭陵郡公，增邑三千戶，並賜諡號成，贈假黃鉞。蘭陵郡公由倖免於難的孫兒衛璪承襲，後因東海王司馬越以蘭陵郡增益本國東海國而改封江夏郡公，有食邑八千五百戶。

性格特徵

• 《晉書》載衛瓘性貞靜有名理，以明識清允稱。

• 衛瓘學問淵博，有文才及藝術，尤其與同時的尚書郎索靖擅長草書，得當時人稱美為「一臺二妙」。時人更將其書法與漢末書法家張芝相提，稱「瓘得伯英筋，靖得伯英肉」。張懷瓘《書斷》以衞瓘的章草列為「神品」，小篆、隸書、行書、及草書則為「妙品」。

軼事

• 鄧艾被衛瓘指使田續殺害後，杜預向眾人大表不滿：「伯玉難道不會有報應嗎！身為名士，位居總帥，居然做出這種缺德事給底下人看，是小人而乘君子之器，這種人怎麼能讓他上位？」衛瓘聽後，啞口無言，只好低頭道歉。而後衛家子孫果受誅戮，只有兩個孫子因為當時出外看病而倖免。。

• 衛家遭難前一年，灶房僕人煮飯時，米粒落地，變成了螺。。

• 衛瓘擔任司空時，因帳下給使榮晦犯了錯，便發怒免了榮晦的職，後來司馬暐率眾捕殺衛瓘家時，榮晦也在其行陣中，按著譜序把衛瓘子孫一個個抓出來屠戮。後來衛瓘的女兒在衛家獲得平反後，上書申冤，請求朝廷將榮晦族誅。。

• 衛瓘的兒子衛恆躲在牆中，原本可以免難，他挖孔向嫂父何劭詢問風聲，何劭卻知情不告，結果衛恆以為沒事了，從牆中走出來，經過廚房，被正在廚房找東西吃的人撞見，於是遇害。

家庭

父

• 衛覬

兄弟

• 衛寔，（史書作實，當從墓碑作寔）衞瓘弟；曾任弘農太守衞瓘封菑陽侯時分爵封為開陽亭侯。

子女輩

• 衛恆，蘭陵貞世子，與父同被殺

• 衞嶽，與父同被殺

• 衞裔，與父同被殺

• 衞宣，娶繁昌公主，後離婚，先衞瓘病死

• 衛庭，衛宣弟，為太子司馬遹友

• 衛氏

• 衛琇，字惠瑛，河東人，散騎常侍、聞陽鄉侯衛寔之女，司空衛瓘侄女。王浚繼妻，無子女。

孫輩

• 衛璪，衛恆子，襲爵，官至散騎侍郎，永嘉之亂時死於戰亂。

• 衛玠，衛恆子，有盛名。

• 衛鑠，衛恆女；李矩之妻衛夫人、書聖王羲之之師。

相關條目

• 魏滅蜀之戰

• 八王之亂

參考、注釋

參考書目

• 房玄齡，《晉書·衛瓘傳》

• 陳壽，《三國志》，卷28，〈鄧艾鍾會傳〉

• 司馬光，《資治通鑑》，卷78，〈魏紀十〉咸熙元年

延伸閱讀

Early life and career

Wei Guan was from Anyi County (安邑縣), Hedong Commandery, which is located west of present-day Xia County, Shanxi. His father Wei Ji (衛覬; 168 - 229) was a high-ranking Wei official and marquis. Wei Guan inherited his father's peerage, and when he grew older became an official. Throughout the years, he became known for his capability and was continuously promoted. After Cao Huan became emperor, he became an Official of Justice (廷尉卿), and was known for his strength in logical thinking.

When the Wei regent Sima Zhao ordered the generals Zhong Hui and Deng Ai to attack Wei's rival state Shu Han in 263, Wei Guan served as Deng Ai's deputy. After the fall of Shu that year, Zhong Hui planned a rebellion, and the first step of his preparation was to falsely accuse Deng Ai of treason. Sima Zhao, believing Zhong Hui's accusations, ordered Deng Ai arrested, and Zhong Hui in turn ordered Wei Guan to arrest Deng Ai, hoping that Wei Guan would fail and be killed by Deng Ai so that he could further affirm his accusations against Deng Ai. Wei Guan knew this, so he surprised Deng Ai in the middle of the night and arrested him. When Zhong Hui rebelled later, Wei Guan pretended to be seriously ill, so Zhong Hui lowered his guard against Wei Guan. Later, Wei Guan participated in inciting the soldiers to start a mutiny against Zhong Hui and end the rebellion. Fearful that Deng Ai would then retaliate against him, he had Deng Ai tracked down and killed. When Du Yu publicly denounced Wei Guan, instead of becoming angry and retaliate against Du Yu, Wei Guan visited him and apologised. He also declined a larger fief that Sima Zhao was ready to bestow on him for his accomplishments.

Career during the Jin dynasty

In September 265, Sima Zhao died and was succeeded as regent by his son Sima Yan (Emperor Wu). In February 266, Sima Yan usurped the throne from Cao Huan, thus ending the Cao Wei state and establishing the Jin dynasty. Throughout Emperor Wu's reign, Wei Guan continued to be an important official and general, serving in a variety of roles capably. As a result, one of his brothers and one of his sons were granted marquis titles. Wei Guan attempted to implement a revised civil service system, where the civil service examiner (中正) would have less input on grading officials, and actual job performance would become more important, but while Emperor Wu liked Wei Guan's suggestions, he did not carry them out.

In 271, Wei Guan was transferred to Senior General Who Attacks the North, where he was tasked with defending the northern frontier. During his tenure, the biggest threats to the frontier were the Wuhuan in the east and the Tuoba-Xianbei people in the west. When the supreme chieftain of the Tuoba, Tuoba Liwei sent his son and heir apparent, Tuoba Shamohan to pay tribute, Wei Guan convinced Emperor Wu to detain Shamohan while he bribed the Tuoba and Wuhuan chiefs in a plan to sow division and weaken them. Shamohan was only allowed to return in 277, but he was soon killed in a conspiracy by the chiefs, throwing the Tuoba into a state of turmoil while the Wuhuan submitted to Jin. The following year, Wei Guan was summoned back to the capital.

Wei Guan was one of the few officials who dared to openly speak to Emperor Wu about his choice of heir apparent, his son Sima Zhong, who was developmentally disabled. On one occasion, Emperor Wu, after Wei Guan hinted that Sima Zhong should not be crown prince, sent a number of inquiries to Sima Zhong to have answered. When the inquiries were appropriately answered (because Sima Zhong's wife Jia Nanfeng had someone else answer the inquiries for Sima Zhong), Emperor Wu was happy and publicly showed Wei Guan the answers, embarrassing Wei Guan greatly and making it clear to other officials that Wei Guan had said something.

After Emperor Wu's death in May 290, Yang Jun, the father of Empress Dowager Yang, assumed the regency for Sima Zhong, who ascended the throne as Emperor Hui. However, in April 291, Yang Jun was overthrown and killed in a coup started by Empress Jia. Wei Guan was then made regent, along with Emperor Hui's granduncle Sima Liang in May. Wei Guan and Sima Liang tried to get the government on track, but Empress Jia continued to interfere with governmental matters. They also became concerned about the violent temper of Emperor Hui's half-brother Sima Wei (who was heavily involved in the coup against Yang Jun) and therefore tried to strip him of his military command, but Sima Wei persuaded Empress Jia to let him keep his military command. Sima Wei's assistants Qi Sheng (岐盛) and Gongsun Hong thereafter falsely told Empress Jia that Sima Liang and Wei Guan planned to depose the emperor. Empress Jia, who had already resented Wei Guan for having, during Emperor Wu's reign, suggested that he change his choice of heir apparent, also wanted more direct control over the government, and therefore resolved to undergo a second coup.

In summer 291, Empress Jia instructed Emperor Hui to write an imperial edict to Sima Wei, ordering him to have Sima Liang and Wei Guan removed from their offices. His forces thereby surrounded Sima Liang and Wei Guan's mansions, and while both men's subordinates recommended resistance, each declined and was captured. Against what the edict said, both were killed – Sima Liang with his heir Sima Ju and Wei Guan with nine of his sons and grandsons. After Empress Jia, concerned about Sima Wei's power, then falsely declared that the edict was forged by Sima Wei and had him executed, Wei Guan was posthumously rehabilitated and restored to the status of a duke.

Calligraphy

Wei Guan was a famous calligrapher during his time, being a master of the cursive script. He and his colleague, Suo Jing, were collectively referred to as "One terrace, two wonders" due to their calligraphy skills. The two were also compared to the Eastern Han dynasty calligrapher, Zhang Zhi, and a common saying in their day was "Wei Guan received Boying's tendons, Suo Jing received Boying's flesh". Wei Guan's granddaughter, Wei Shuo, was another famous calligrapher, most known for being the teacher of Wang Xizhi.