侯景
Wang was from Yingchuan Commandery (潁川, roughly modern Xuchang, Henan). His ancestors were from Lüeyang Commandery (略陽, roughly modern Tianshui, Gansu), but as his father Wang Lüe (王略) served as the county magistrate of Xuchang County (許昌, Yingchuan Commandery's seat), the family remained in Yingchuan. Wang himself was known for his knowledge of the "I Ching" and for his beautiful writing style, and he served as a secretary under Hou Jing while Hou was put in charge of the provinces south of the Yellow River by the paramount general of Eastern Wei, Gao Huan.