Qian Weijun () (October 22, 955''

Spring and Autumn Annals of the Ten Kingdoms The ''Spring and Autumn Annals of the Ten Kingdoms'', also known by its Chinese title ''Shiguo Chunqiu'' (), is a history of the Ten Kingdoms that existed in southern China after the fall of the Tang Dynasty and before the reunification of China ...

'', vol. 81.

Academia Sinica Academia Sinica (AS, la, 1=Academia Sinica, 3=Chinese Academy; ), headquartered in Nangang, Taipei, is the national academy of Taiwan. Founded in Nanking, the academy supports research activities in a wide variety of disciplines, ranging from ...

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– 991'' History of Song'', vol. 480.),

courtesy name A courtesy name (), also known as a style name, is a name bestowed upon one at adulthood in addition to one's given name. This practice is a tradition in the East Asian cultural sphere, including China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam.Ulrich Theobald ...

Yuchuan (), formally Prince Anxi of Bin (邠安僖王, "peaceful and careful"), was the

heir apparent An heir apparent, often shortened to heir, is a person who is first in an order of succession and cannot be displaced from inheriting by the birth of another person; a person who is first in the order of succession but can be displaced by the b ...

Qian Chu Qian Chu (September 29, 929 – October 7, 988, courtesy name Wende), known as Qian Hongchu before 960, was the last king of Wuyue, reigning from 947 until 978 when he surrendered his kingdom to the Song dynasty. Life Qian Chu came to power aft ...

(King Zhongyi), the fifth and last king of

Wuyue Wuyue (; ), 907–978, was an independent coastal kingdom founded during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period (907–960) of Chinese history. It was ruled by the Haiyan Qian clan (海盐钱氏), whose family name remains widespread in t ...

of the

Chinese Chinese can refer to: * Something related to China * Chinese people, people of Chinese nationality, citizenship, and/or ethnicity **''Zhonghua minzu'', the supra-ethnic concept of the Chinese nation ** List of ethnic groups in China, people of ...

Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period The Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period (), from 907 to 979, was an era of political upheaval and division in 10th-century Imperial China. Five dynastic states quickly succeeded one another in the Central Plain, and more than a dozen conc ...

. After Wuyue's absorption into its suzerain

Song A song is a musical composition intended to be performed by the human voice. This is often done at distinct and fixed pitches (melodies) using patterns of sound and silence. Songs contain various forms, such as those including the repetitio ...

, he continued to serve Song until his death at age 35/36.

Background

Qian Weijun was born in 955, as the oldest biological son of

's king

Qian Hongchu Qian Chu (September 29, 929 – October 7, 988, courtesy name Wende), known as Qian Hongchu before 960, was the last king of Wuyue, reigning from 947 until 978 when he surrendered his kingdom to the Song dynasty. Life Qian Chu came to power aft ...

(later renamed Qian Chu). His mother was Qian Chu's wife Sun Taizhen. Immediately upon his birth, he received the title of

.''Spring and Autumn Annals of the Ten Kingdoms'', vol. 83. When he was just a few years old, Qian Hongchu, acting on authority granted him by the emperor of Wuyue's then-suzerain

Later Zhou Zhou, known as the Later Zhou (; ) in historiography, was a short-lived Chinese imperial dynasty and the last of the Five Dynasties that controlled most of northern China during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. Founded by Guo Wei (E ...

, gave Qian Weijun the titles of deputy military governor of Wuyue's two main circuits, Zhenhai (鎮海, headquartered in modern

Hangzhou Hangzhou ( or , ; , , Standard Mandarin pronunciation: ), also romanized as Hangchow, is the capital and most populous city of Zhejiang, China. It is located in the northwestern part of the province, sitting at the head of Hangzhou Bay, whi ...

Zhejiang Zhejiang ( or , ; , also romanized as Chekiang) is an eastern, coastal province of the People's Republic of China. Its capital and largest city is Hangzhou, and other notable cities include Ningbo and Wenzhou. Zhejiang is bordered by Jiang ...

) and Zhendong (鎮東, headquartered in modern

Shaoxing Shaoxing (; ) is a prefecture-level city on the southern shore of Hangzhou Bay in northeastern Zhejiang province, China. It was formerly known as Kuaiji and Shanyin and abbreviated in Chinese as (''Yuè'') from the area's former inhabitants. ...

); acting ''Taibao'' (), and overseers of all military matters of the two circuits of both the native and the guest armies. In 960, after the Later Zhou throne was seized by the general

Zhao Kuangyin Emperor Taizu of Song (21 March 927 – 14 November 976), personal name Zhao Kuangyin, courtesy name Yuanlang, was the founder and first emperor of the Song dynasty of China. He reigned from 960 until his death in 976. Formerly a distinguish ...

, who established

Song dynasty The Song dynasty (; ; 960–1279) was an imperial dynasty of China that began in 960 and lasted until 1279. The dynasty was founded by Emperor Taizu of Song following his usurpation of the throne of the Later Zhou. The Song conquered the rest ...

as its Emperor Taizu, Qian Weijun received the title of acting ''Taifu'' (). In 962, he received the title of military governor (''

Jiedushi The ''jiedushi'' (), or jiedu, was a title for regional military governors in China which was established in the Tang dynasty and abolished in the Yuan dynasty. The post of ''jiedushi'' has been translated as "military commissioner", "legate", ...

'') of Jianwu Circuit (建武, headquartered in modern

Nanning Nanning (; ; za, Namzningz) is the capital and largest city by population of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in Southern China. It is known as the "Green City" because of its abundance of lush subtropical foliage. Located in the South of ...

Guangxi Guangxi (; ; Chinese postal romanization, alternately romanized as Kwanghsi; ; za, Gvangjsih, italics=yes), officially the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (GZAR), is an Autonomous regions of China, autonomous region of the People's Republic ...

) — a completely honorary title as Jianwu was then under the control of

Southern Han Southern Han (; 917–971), officially Han (), originally Yue (), was one of the ten kingdoms that existed during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. It was located on China's southern coast, controlling modern Guangdong and Guangxi. The ...

. In 963, he received the title of acting ''Taiwei'' (太尉, one of the

Three Excellencies The Three Ducal Ministers (), also translated as the Three Dukes, Three Excellencies, or the Three Lords, was the collective name for the three highest officials in Ancient China and Imperial China. These posts were abolished by Cao Cao in 208 AD a ...

). Later that year, when Emperor Taizu was set to offer sacrifices to heaven and earth, Qian Hongchu (whose name was changed to Qian Chu by this point to observe naming taboo for Emperor Taizu's father

Zhao Hongyin Zhao Hongyin () (899-956) was a military general in Imperial China's Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. After his death, his son Zhao Kuangyin founded the Song dynasty in 960. His other son Zhao Kuangyi would also become a Song emperor. F ...

) sent Qian Weijun to the Song capital

Kaifeng Kaifeng () is a prefecture-level city in east-central Henan province, China. It is one of the Eight Ancient Capitals of China, having been the capital eight times in history, and is best known for having been the Chinese capital during the Nort ...

to participate in the ceremony.''

Xu Zizhi Tongjian ''Xu Zizhi Tongjian'' (續資治通鑑; "Continuation to ''Zizhi Tongjian''") was a book chronicling Chinese history of the Song dynasty between 960 and 1279 and the Yuan dynasty between 1279 and 1370. Credited to Bi Yuan (畢沅; 1730–1797), a ...

'', vol. 3. In 968, when the Song emperor again was offering sacrifices to heaven and earth, Qian Weijun was again sent to Kaifeng to participate in the ceremony. As he was set to departure from Kaifeng back to Wuyue in early 969, Emperor Taizu bestowed on him the titles of military governor of Zhenhai and Zhendong.''Xu Zizhi Tongjian'', vol. 5. In 971, Qian Chu again sent him to submit tributes to the Song emperor.''Xu Zizhi Tongjian'', vol. 7.

Heir Apparent

Subsequently, when Wuyue forces participated in the Song campaign that would destroy Wuyue's northwestern neighbor

Jiangnan Jiangnan or Jiang Nan (; formerly romanized Kiang-nan, literally "South of the River" meaning "South of the Yangtze") is a geographic area in China referring to lands immediately to the south of the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, incl ...

, Qian Weijun accompanied his father Qian Chu on the campaign, and, after the campaign, was bestowed the honorary

chancellor Chancellor ( la, cancellarius) is a title of various official positions in the governments of many nations. The original chancellors were the of Roman courts of justice—ushers, who sat at the or lattice work screens of a basilica or law cou ...

title of ''Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi'' (). In 976, when Qian Chu went to Kaifeng himself to pay homage to the Song emperor, Qian Weijun accompanied him, and subsequently, when the Song emperor was set to visit the western capital

Luoyang Luoyang is a city located in the confluence area of Luo River (Henan), Luo River and Yellow River in the west of Henan province. Governed as a prefecture-level city, it borders the provincial capital of Zhengzhou to the east, Pingdingshan to the ...

, Qian Chu asked to accompany him, an offer that Emperor Taizu declined (instead sending Qian Chu back to his own domain) but allowed Qian Weijun to accompany him.''Xu Zizhi Tongjian'', vol. 8. Later in the year, Emperor Taizu died, and was succeeded by his brother

Zhao Guangyi Zhao Jiong (20 November 939 – 8 May 997), known as Zhao Guangyi from 960 to 977 and Zhao Kuangyi before 960, also known by his temple name Taizong after his death, was the second emperor of the Song dynasty of China. He reigned from 976 to h ...

the Prince of Jin (as Emperor Taizong). Shortly after, Qian Weijun's mother Queen Sun also died, and he formally left governmental service to observe a mourning period for her, but Emperor Taizong then recalled him back to governmental service, and gave him additional general titles. As Qian Chu was again preparing to go to Kaifeng to pay homage to the new emperor, he first sent Qian Weijun to submit tributes, and Qian Weijun initially stayed at Kaifeng, but then was sent to Song Prefecture (宋州, in modern

Shangqiu Shangqiu (), alternately romanized as Shangkiu, is a city in eastern Henan province, Central China. It borders Kaifeng to the northwest, Zhoukou to the southwest, and the provinces of Shandong and Anhui to the northeast and southeast respectively ...

Henan Henan (; or ; ; alternatively Honan) is a landlocked province of China, in the central part of the country. Henan is often referred to as Zhongyuan or Zhongzhou (), which literally means "central plain" or "midland", although the name is al ...

) in spring 978 to welcome his father there and accompany his father to Kaifeng.''Xu Zizhi Tongjian'', vol. 9. Meanwhile, Qian Chu was hoping that Emperor Taizong, just like Emperor Taizu before, would allow him to return to his new domain, and so offered rich tributes to the emperor. Meanwhile, though, the Song chancellor Lu Duoxun was advocating that the emperor detain Qian Chu at Kaifeng and absorb Wuyue into Song proper — just as

Chen Hongjin Chen Hongjin () (914–985), courtesy name Jichuan (), formally Duke Zhongshun of Qi (), was a warlord late in the Chinese Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period, who controlled Qingyuan Circuit (headquartered in modern Quanzhou, Fujian). After a ...

the military governor of Pinghai Circuit had just recently surrendered the two prefectures under his control to Song. While Emperor Taizong did not approve Lu's proposal, he also did not permit Qian Chu to leave Kaifeng, even after Qian Chu submitted reports on Wuyue's armies and offered to be relieved of the Song-bestowed titles of King of Wuyue and Generalissimo. In fear, Qian submitted a petition surrendering the 13 prefectures that Wuyue consisted of, ending Wuyue's existence as a state.

After absorption by Song

After absorbing Wuyue, Emperor Taizong gave Qian Chu a new kingly title — King of Huaihai — and made Qian Weijun the military governor of Huainan Circuit (淮南, headquartered in modern

Yangzhou Yangzhou, postal romanization Yangchow, is a prefecture-level city in central Jiangsu Province (Suzhong), East China. Sitting on the north bank of the Yangtze, it borders the provincial capital Nanjing to the southwest, Huai'an to the north, Yan ...

Jiangsu Jiangsu (; ; pinyin: Jiāngsū, Postal romanization, alternatively romanized as Kiangsu or Chiangsu) is an Eastern China, eastern coastal Provinces of the People's Republic of China, province of the China, People's Republic of China. It is o ...

), which was the extent of the ceremonial Kingdom of Huaihai, although both Qian Chu and Qian Weijun, regardless of subsequent titles they were given, were usually kept at Kaifeng at the Song court. The close relatives of the Qian clan and the officials who served on Qian Chu's staff were also ordered to report to Kaifeng. Later, they accompanied the Song emperor on campaigns to destroy

Northern Han The Northern Han () was a dynastic state of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. It was founded by Liu Min (), formerly known as Liu Chong (), and lasted from 951 to 979. Founding of the Northern Han The short-lived state of Later Ha ...

(which was successful) and to recapture the

Sixteen Prefectures The Sixteen Prefectures () comprise a historical region in northern China along the Great Wall in present-day Beijing, Tianjin, and northern Hebei and Shanxi. Name It is more specifically called the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun or the Six ...

occupied by the Khitan

Liao dynasty The Liao dynasty (; Khitan: ''Mos Jælud''; ), also known as the Khitan Empire (Khitan: ''Mos diau-d kitai huldʒi gur''), officially the Great Liao (), was an imperial dynasty of China that existed between 916 and 1125, ruled by the Yelü ...

(which was not successful), as well as a subsequent visit that Emperor Taizong took to Daming (大名, in modern

Handan Handan is a prefecture-level city located in the southwest of Hebei province, China. The southernmost prefecture-level city of the province, it borders Xingtai on the north, and the provinces of Shanxi on the west, Henan on the south and Shando ...

Hebei Hebei or , (; alternately Hopeh) is a northern province of China. Hebei is China's sixth most populous province, with over 75 million people. Shijiazhuang is the capital city. The province is 96% Han Chinese, 3% Manchu, 0.8% Hui, an ...

). In 984, Qian Weijun was made the military governor of Shannan East Circuit (山南東道, headquartered in modern

Xiangyang Xiangyang is a prefecture-level city in northwestern Hubei province, China and the second largest city in Hubei by population. It was known as Xiangfan from 1950 to 2010. The Han River runs through Xiangyang's centre and divides the city no ...

Hubei Hubei (; ; alternately Hupeh) is a landlocked province of the People's Republic of China, and is part of the Central China region. The name of the province means "north of the lake", referring to its position north of Dongting Lake. The prov ...

) (apparently corresponding to his father's change of title to be King of Hannan at that time). In 987, he was made the military governor of Anyuan Circuit (安遠, headquartered in modern

Xiaogan Xiaogan () is a prefecture-level city in east-central Hubei province, People's Republic of China, some northwest of the provincial capital of Wuhan. According to the 2020 census, its population totaled 4,270,371, of whom 988,479 lived in the built ...

), but continued to remain at Kaifeng, while his father Qian Chu was sent out of the capital to serve as the military governor of Wusheng Circuit (武勝, headquartered in modern

Nanyang Nanyang is the romanization of two common Chinese place names. It may refer to: Written as 南洋 (Southern Ocean) * Nanyang (region), a Chinese term denoting the Southeast Asian lands surrounding the South China Sea ;China * Nanyang Fleet, Qing ...

). In 988, he was created the Duke of Xiao. Shortly after, Qian Chu died, but Emperor Taizong recalled him to service and gave him the greater honorary chancellor title of ''Zhongshu Ling'' (). Upon accounting of their father's estate, Qian Weijun and his brothers offered a large tribute of money, gold, silk, rhinoceros horn, jade, ivory, clove, jewelry, musical instruments, gambling complements, vessels, and wagons from the estate to the emperor, which were apparently accepted, but his further tribute of female musicians was declined. In 990, the government of Hang Prefecture (杭州, in modern

) — formerly Wuyue's capital — submitted to the emperor the jade and bamboo commission tablets and the iron certificates issued to the kings of Wuyue, taken from the Qian ancestral shrines. The emperor declined them and instead gave them to Qian Weijun. Qian Weijun suffered a sudden illness and died in 991. (The shortness of his lifespan was blamed on his favoring drinking.) Emperor Taizong posthumously created him the Prince of Bin, and sent imperial eunuchs to oversee the funeral arrangements.

Notes and references

* '' History of Song'', vol. 480. * ''

'', vol. 83. * ''

'', vols. 3, 5, 7, 8, 9. {{DEFAULTSORT:Qian, Weijun 955 births 991 deaths Politicians from Hangzhou Generals from Zhejiang Wuyue generals Later Zhou people Chinese princes Song dynasty jiedushi of Jianwu Circuit Song dynasty jiedushi of Zhendong Circuit Song dynasty jiedushi of Zhenhai Circuit Song dynasty jiedushi of Huainan Circuit Song dynasty jiedushi of Shannan East Circuit Song dynasty jiedushi of Anyuan Circuit Wuyue jiedushi of Zhendong Circuit Wuyue jiedushi of Zhenhai Circuit Song dynasty politicians from Zhejiang