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 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 Southern Tang ( zh, c=南唐, p=Nán Táng) was a Dynasties in Chinese history, dynastic state of China that existed during Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. Located in southern China, the Southern Tang proclaimed itself to be the successor ...

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 is a prefecture-level city in central Jiangsu Province, East 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, Jiangsu, ...

Jiangsu Jiangsu is a coastal Provinces of the People's Republic of China, province in East China. It is one of the leading provinces in finance, education, technology, and tourism, with its capital in Nanjing. Jiangsu is the List of Chinese administra ...

), 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 or Nanking is the capital of Jiangsu, a province in East China. The city, which is located in the southwestern corner of the province, has 11 districts, an administrative area of , and a population of 9,423,400. Situated in the Yang ...

). 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), also known by his posthumous name as the Emperor Rui of Yang Wu (), was the last ruler of China's Yang Wu dynasty during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, and the only one that claimed ...

'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 of China, 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 ...

). 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 () is a title of various official positions in the governments of many countries. The original chancellors were the of Roman courts of justice—ushers, who sat at the (lattice work screens) of a basilica (court hall), which separa ...

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

Zizhi Tongjian The ''Zizhi Tongjian'' (1084) is a chronicle published during the Northern Song dynasty (960–1127) that provides a record of Chinese history from 403 BC to 959 AD, covering 16 dynasties and spanning almost 1400 years. The main text is ...

'', 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

.''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 of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known in Rome as the Year of the Consulship of Probus and Paternus (or, less frequently, year 1032 ''Ab urbe condita''). The den ...

, 280,

281 __NOTOC__ Year 281 ( CCLXXXI) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Probus and Tiberianus (or, less frequently, year 1034 ''Ab urbe condita''). The denomination ...

. {{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