Xu Jingqian

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Xu Jingqian (徐景遷) (919-937 [1] ), 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 Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period 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.

History of China account of past events in the Chinese civilisation

The earliest known written records of the history of China date from as early as 1250 BC, from the Shang dynasty, during the king Wu Ding's reign, who was recorded as the twenty-first Shang king by the written records of Shang dynasty unearthed. Ancient historical texts such as the Records of the Grand Historian and the Bamboo Annals describe a Xia dynasty before the Shang, but no writing is known from the period, and Shang writings do not indicate the existence of the Xia. The Shang ruled in the Yellow River valley, which is commonly held to be the cradle of Chinese civilization. However, Neolithic civilizations originated at various cultural centers along both the Yellow River and Yangtze River. These Yellow River and Yangtze civilizations arose millennia before the Shang. With thousands of years of continuous history, China is one of the world's oldest civilizations, and is regarded as one of the cradles of civilization.

Li Bian, known as Xu Gao between 937 and 939 and Xu Zhigao before 937, and possibly Li Pengnu during his childhood, also known posthumously by his temple name Liezu, was the founder and first emperor of the Southern Tang. In traditional histories, he is also often referred to as the First Lord of Southern Tang (南唐先主). He was an adopted son and successor of the Wu regent Xu Wen who usurped power from the Wu emperor Yang Pu.

Contents

Background

Xu Jingqian was born in 919, [1] when his father Xu Zhigao was serving as Wu's junior regent, overseeing the government at the capital Guangling (廣陵, in modern Yangzhou, Jiangsu), 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, Jiangsu). [2] 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. [1]

Yangzhou Prefecture-level city in Jiangsu, Peoples Republic of China

Yangzhou, postal romanization Yangchow, is a prefecture-level city in central Jiangsu Province, China. Sitting on the north bank of the Yangtze, it borders the provincial capital Nanjing to the southwest, Huai'an to the north, Yancheng to the northeast, Taizhou to the east, and Zhenjiang across the river to the south. Its population was 4,414,681 at the 2010 census and its urban area is home to 2,146,980 inhabitants, including three urban districts, currently in the agglomeration.

Jiangsu Province of China

Jiangsu, is an eastern-central coastal province of the People's Republic of China. It is one of the leading provinces in finance, education, technology and tourism, with its capital in Nanjing. Jiangsu is the third smallest, but the fifth most populous and the most densely populated of the 23 provinces of the People's Republic of China. Jiangsu has the highest GDP per capita of Chinese provinces and second-highest GDP of Chinese provinces, after Guangdong. Jiangsu borders Shandong in the north, Anhui to the west, and Zhejiang and Shanghai to the south. Jiangsu has a coastline of over 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) along the Yellow Sea, and the Yangtze River passes through the southern part of the province.

Xu Wen (徐溫), courtesy name Dunmei (敦美), formally Prince Zhongwu of Qi (齊忠武王), later further posthumously honored Emperor Wu (武皇帝) with the temple name Yizu (義祖) by his adoptive son Xu Zhigao after Xu Zhigao founded the state of Southern Tang, was a major general and regent of the Chinese Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period state Wu. He took over the reins of the Wu state after assassinating, with his colleague Zhang Hao, Yang Wo, the first Prince of Hongnong, and then killing Zhang. Xu was in essence the decision-maker throughout the reign of Yang Wo's brother and successor Yang Longyan and the first part of the reign of Yang Longyan's brother and successor Yang Pu. After his death, Xu Zhigao inherited his position as regent, eventually seizing the Wu throne and establishing Southern Tang.

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's daughter Princess Shangrao, and therefore was given the traditional title for a princess' husband, Fuma Duwei (駙馬都尉). Despite his high status, he was said to be frugal and not living luxuriously. [1]

Yang Pu (楊溥), formally Emperor Rui of Wu (吳睿帝), known as Emperor Gaoshang Sixuan Honggu Rang or, in short, Emperor Rang, while still living during the initial months of succeeding Southern Tang, was the last ruler of the Chinese Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period state 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 adoptive son and successor Xu Zhigao. In 938, Xu Zhigao forced Yang Pu to yield the throne to him, who then established Southern Tang.

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, Jiangsu). [1] 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 with the designation of Can Zhengshi (參政事), leaving him at Guangling to take over as junior regent. [3]

Lianyungang Prefecture-level city in Jiangsu, Peoples Republic of China

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 Lian Island the largest island in Jiangsu Province which lies off its coastline, and Yuntai Mountain (Jiangsu), the highest peak in Jiangsu Province, a few miles from the town center, and the fact that it is a port.

In 935, Xu Jingqian was given the greater chancellor designation of Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi (同中書門下平章事). Xu Zhigao had the official Chen Jue, whose abilities he regarded highly, serve on Xu Jingqian's staff, to assist him. [3]

In 936, by which time Xu Jingqian also carried the honorary title of Taibao (太保), 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. [4] He died in 937, before his father Xu Zhigao seized the Wu throne and established his own state of Southern Tang. [5] His wife Princess Shangrao also died not long after. [6] 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. [1]

Southern Tang Former country in Chinas 5 dynasties and 10 kingdoms period

Southern Tang, later known as Jiangnan (江南), was one of the Ten Kingdoms in Southern China created following the Tang dynasty from 937–976. Southern Tang replaced the Wu empire when Li Bian deposed the emperor Yang Pu.

Notes and references

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Spring and Autumn Annals of the Ten Kingdoms , vol. 19.
  2. ↑ Spring and Autumn Annals of the Ten Kingdoms, vol. 13.
  3. 1 2 Zizhi Tongjian , vol. 279.
  4. ↑ Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 280.
  5. ↑ Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 281.
  6. ↑ Spring and Autumn Annals of the Ten Kingdoms, vol. 4.
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