It was also historically used within Chinese fiefs as a respectful term of address to any living liege (similar to the English "lord") and is still used in modern Chinese as a respectful term of address for any man of high status (similar to "sir"), particularly for the honored deceased as with formal reference to Chiang Kai-shek as Jiǎng Gōng (蔣公) on Taiwan.

Paul R. Goldin has argued for its etymological relationship with 翁 (wēng), with their shared original term having meant "respected elder".

[4] The Xiang Duke of Song (r. 650–637 BC) even became one of the Five Hegemons of the Spring and Autumn period, before such lords began to use the title of king.

[4] Under the Han and subsequent dynasties, wang—previously the royal title of the Xia, Shang, and Zhou sovereigns—came to be used for senior princes and vassal rulers who controlled the more important primary divisions of the empire.

The primary example is how, under the Northern Song, the emperor Renzong made the title Duke Yansheng—"Overflowing with Wisdom"—hereditary within the line of direct descent from Confucius.