It is not known when Wang Tuan was born. He was born from a lineage that had two male-line ancestors who were chancellors earlier in history — his 10th generation ancestor Wang Fangqing, who served under the female sovereign Wu Zetian, and his great-grandfather Wang Yu, who served under Emperor Suzong. Both his grandfather Wang Ji and father Wang Hui also served honored positions in the imperial administration.
Early career
At some point, Wang Tuan passed the imperial examinations in the Jinshi class. He thereafter served on the staff of the former chancellor Wang Duo in Wang Duo's role as the prefect of Hua Prefecture. Wang Tuan later served as the prefect of Su Prefecture, and later the deputy minister of census as well as director of taxation.
As chancellor
In 895, when Emperor Zhaozong commissioned the chancellor Cui Yin to be the military governor of Huguo Circuit in an attempt to take back control of Huguo for the imperial government, he made Wang Tuan Zhongshu Shilang — the deputy head of the legislative bureau of government — and a chancellor with the designation of Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi to replace Cui. While it was said that Wang was understanding and magnanimous, and that the people considered him an excellent chancellor, little is known about Wang's own actions as chancellor, other than that, when Emperor Zhaozong fled from the imperial capitalChang'an into the Qinling Mountains later in the year in fear of being taken hostage by the warlords Li Maozhen the military governor of Fengxiang Circuit and Wang Xingyu the military governor of Jingnan Circuit, Wang Tuan, along with other chancellors Cui Zhaowei and Xu Yanruo, accompanied the emperor. In 896, while Emperor Zhaozong was at Hua Prefecture due to another attack by Li Maozhen on the capital, the warlordQian Liu the military governor of Zhenhai Circuit defeated and killed fellow warlord Dong Chang the military governor of Weisheng Circuit , thus taking over control of Weisheng. Emperor Zhaozong, apparently in an attempt to take back control of Weisheng, commissioned Wang as the military governor of Weisheng, still carrying the Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi designation as an honorary title. However, Qian, not willing to cede control of Weisheng, encouraged the people of Zhenhai and Weisheng Circuits to submit petitions to have Qian be the military governor of both circuits. Emperor Zhaozong, bowing to the pressure, recalled Wang to serve as chancellor again, as well as the minister of civil service affairs, while naming Qian the military governor of both circuits. After Emperor Zhaozong created his son Li Yu, Prince of DeCrown Prince in 897, Wang Tuan suggested that a general pardon be issued to show the importance of the creation. Emperor Zhaozong thereafter gave Wang the titles of You Pushe, one of the heads of the executive bureau, as well as Sikong. He also created Wang the Duke of Lu.
Death
Meanwhile, by spring 900, Cui Yin had become the most powerful official at the imperial court. Cui had already previously intensely plotted with Emperor Zhaozong in considering whether to slaughter the eunuchs. Wang, fearing that such plotting would lead to an explosive confrontation between imperial officials and eunuchs, urged caution. Cui, who had earlier already accused Wang of working in concert with the eunuch directors of palace communications Zhu Daobi and Jing Wuxiu, had previously suspected Wang Tuan of squeezing him out of the chancellorship in 899, and further despised Wang after he was, in spring 900, sent out of the capital to serve as the military governor of Qinghai Circuit. Before he left the capital, he renewed the accusations against Wang. Subsequently, Cui's ally Zhu Quanzhong the military governor of Xuanwu Circuit submitted a petition urging that Cui be returned to the chancellorship and accusing Wang of collaborating with the eunuchs. Emperor Zhaozong recalled Cui to Chang'an to serve as chancellor again, while demoting Wang to be the deputy minister of public works. Within a few days, Wang was further demoted to be the prefect of Xi Prefecture, then to be the census officer at Yai Prefecture. The same day that the exile to Yai Prefecture was announced, Wang was forced to commit suicide, and Wang died at Lantian Station.
