Xu Jingqian (徐景遷) (919-937''

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. 19.), also known in some historical records as Li Jingqian (李景遷) (because his family would, after his death, change the surname to Li), posthumously honored as Prince Ding of Chu (楚定王), was an official 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 va ...

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 ...

state Wu, serving as junior regent under his father, the senior regent Xu Zhigao (later known as Li Bian), who would later found Wu's successor state Southern Tang.

Background

Xu Jingqian was born in 919, when his father Xu Zhigao was serving as Wu's junior regent, overseeing the government at the capital Guangling (廣陵, 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 ...

), while his adoptive grandfather (Xu Zhigao's adoptive father) Xu Wen, the senior regent, was controlling the army at his headquarters at Sheng Prefecture (昇州, in modern

Nanjing Nanjing (; , Mandarin pronunciation: ), alternately romanized as Nanking, is the capital of Jiangsu province of the People's Republic of China. It is a sub-provincial city, a megacity, and the second largest city in the East China region. T ...

). He was Xu Zhigao's second son. Both he and his older brother Xu Jingtong were born of Xu Zhigao's second wife Lady Song Fujin, as would two younger brothers ( Xu Jingsui and Xu Jingda). He was said to be alert in his youth, with a good memory such that, after reading, he would not forget what he had read.

Service in the Wu government

It was said that after Xu Jingqian became older, he was elegant in his behavior and appearance, and he had a peaceful disposition. He married the Wu emperor

Yang Pu Yang Pu ( zh, 楊溥; 900 – January 21, 939), formally Emperor Rui of Wu (), was the last ruler of Wu, and the only one that claimed the title of emperor. During his reign, the state was in effective control of the regents Xu Wen and Xu Wen' ...

's daughter Princess Shangrao, and therefore was given the traditional title for a princess' husband, ''Fuma Duwei'' (). Despite his high status, he was said to be frugal and not living luxuriously. Xu Jingqian started his governmental service as the commander of the cavalry and infantry soldiers in his father Xu Zhigao's headquarters (at that time, Xu Zhigao had succeeded Xu Wen as regent, and also had his headquarters at Sheng), and later served as the military prefect (團練使, ''Tuanlianshi'') of Hai Prefecture (海州, in modern

Lianyungang Lianyungang () is a prefecture-level city in northeastern Jiangsu province, China. It borders Yancheng to its southeast, Huai'an and Suqian to its south, Xuzhou to its southwest, and the province of Shandong to its north. Its name derives from ...

). In 934, Xu Zhigao recalled his older brother Xu Jingtong, who had been serving as junior regent at Guangling, back to Jinling (i.e., Sheng) to serve as the deputy supreme commander of the circuits (whereas Xu Zhigao himself was the supreme commander), while commissioning Xu Jingqian as the commander of the left and right armies, ''Zuo Pushe'' (左僕射, one of the heads of the executive bureau of government (尚書省, ''Shangshu Sheng'')), and

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 ...

with the designation of ''Can Zhengshi'' (), leaving him at Guangling to take over as junior regent.''

Zizhi Tongjian ''Zizhi Tongjian'' () is a pioneering reference work in Chinese historiography, published in 1084 AD during the Northern Song dynasty in the form of a chronicle recording Chinese history from 403 BC to 959 AD, covering 16 dynast ...

'', vol. 279. In 935, Xu Jingqian was given the greater chancellor designation of ''Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi'' (). Xu Zhigao had the official Chen Jue, whose abilities he regarded highly, serve on Xu Jingqian's staff, to assist him. In 936, by which time Xu Jingqian also carried the honorary title of ''Taibao'' (), he fell ill. He was removed from his positions on account of his illness, and his younger brother Xu Jingsui replaced him as junior regent.''Zizhi Tongjian'', vol. 280. He died in 937, before his father Xu Zhigao seized the Wu throne and established his own state of Southern Tang.''Zizhi Tongjian'', vol. 281. His wife Princess Shangrao also died not long after.''Spring and Autumn Annals of the Ten Kingdoms'', vol. 4. Xu Zhigao (who changed his name to Li Bian after taking the throne) posthumously created him the Prince of Gaoping. After Xu Jingtong (who had been renamed Li Jing by that point) became emperor, he further posthumously created Xu Jingqian the Prince of Chu.

Notes and references

* ''

'', vol. 19. * ''

'', vols.

279 __NOTOC__ Year 279 ( CCLXXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Probus and Paternus (or, less frequently, year 1032 ...

280 __NOTOC__ Year 280 ( CCLXXX) was a leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Messalla and Gratus (or, less frequently, year 1033 '' ...

, 281. {{DEFAULTSORT:Xu, Jingqian 919 births 937 deaths Generals from Jiangsu Yang Wu generals Political office-holders in Jiangsu Yang Wu chancellors Politicians from Yangzhou Yang Wu regents