Lady Chen (Wusu)
Encyclopedia
Lady Chen formally the Lady Dowager Zhaoyi of Jin (晉國昭懿太夫人), was the mother of Qian Yuanguan (King Wenmu) (né Qian Chuanguan, name changed to Qian Yuanguan upon his succession to the throne), the second king of the Chinese
state Wuyue
of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period
.
Little is known about Lady Chen's background. She was a concubine of Qian Chuanguan's father, Wuyue's first king Qian Liu
(King Wusu) (whose wife was Lady Wu
). She gave birth to his fifth son, Qian Chuanguan, in 887
. Qian Chuanguan was designated Qian Liu's heir in 928
, and that year, Qian Liu, with permission from Emperor Mingzong of Later Tang, whom Qian Liu was a vassal of, transferred the title of military governor (Jiedushi
) of Zhenhai (鎮海, headquartered in modern Hangzhou
, Zhejiang
) and Zhendong (鎮東, headquartered in modern Shaoxing
, Zhejiang
) — which made up the vast majority of Wuyue's territory — to Qian Chuanguan, while remaining king himself. It is unclear what title, if any, Lady Chen carried during Qian Liu's lifetime.
Qian Liu died in 932
, and Qian Chuanguan took over administration of the state (and changed his name to Qian Yuanguan), although for some time did not use the title of King of Wuyue but instead referred to himself by the military governor title (and, in succession, the Later Tang-bestowed titles of Prince of Wu and Prince of Yue) when reporting to Later Tang, to whom Wuyue was a vassal. (He would assume the king title only years after Lady Chen's death, in 937
.) It was said that Qian Yuanguan was respectful and filially pious toward his mother. He also treated her family well, presenting them with many gifts, but never gave them offices on account of her. She died in the early Qingtai era (934
-936
) of the Later Tang emperor Li Congke
and was posthumously created the Lady Dowager of Jin, with the posthumous name
of Zhaoyi ("accomplished and benevolent").
History of China
Chinese civilization originated in various regional centers along both the Yellow River and the Yangtze River valleys in the Neolithic era, but the Yellow River is said to be the Cradle of Chinese Civilization. With thousands of years of continuous history, China is one of the world's oldest...
state Wuyue
Wuyue
Kingdom of Wuyue , 907-978, was a small independent coastal kingdom founded during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms of Chinese history. It was ruled by the Qian family, which remains widespread in the kingdom's former territory.-Founding:...
of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period
Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period
Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms was between 907–960/979 AD and an era of political upheaval in China, between the fall of the Tang Dynasty and the founding of the Song Dynasty. During this period, five dynasties quickly succeeded one another in the north, and more than 12 independent states were...
.
Little is known about Lady Chen's background. She was a concubine of Qian Chuanguan's father, Wuyue's first king Qian Liu
Qian Liu
Qian Liu , courtesy name Jumei , nickname Poliu , formally King Wusu of Wuyue with the temple name of Taizu , was founder and first king of the Kingdom of Wuyue during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period, ruling over roughly modern Zhejiang on the east coast of China.- Background :Qian...
(King Wusu) (whose wife was Lady Wu
Lady Wu (Wusu)
Lady Wu , formally Lady Zhuangmu of Wuyue , was the wife of Qian Liu , the first king of the Chinese state Wuyue of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period.- Background :...
). She gave birth to his fifth son, Qian Chuanguan, in 887
887
Year 887 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* The city of Toledo rises against the Umayyad leader....
. Qian Chuanguan was designated Qian Liu's heir in 928
928
Year 928 was a leap year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar.- Asia :* Dao Kang Di succeeds Gong Hui Di and is followed in the same year by Tai Zu, all of the Dali Gu Dynasty in southeast China.* Jayavarman IV succeeds Isanavarman II in the Khmer Empire, and moves the capital north from...
, and that year, Qian Liu, with permission from Emperor Mingzong of Later Tang, whom Qian Liu was a vassal of, transferred the title of military governor (Jiedushi
Jiedushi
The Jiedushi were regional military governors in China during the Tang Dynasty and the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. Originally set up to counter external threats, the jiedushi were given enormous power, including the ability to maintain their own armies, collect taxes, and pass their...
) of Zhenhai (鎮海, headquartered in modern Hangzhou
Hangzhou
Hangzhou , formerly transliterated as Hangchow, is the capital and largest city of Zhejiang Province in Eastern China. Governed as a sub-provincial city, and as of 2010, its entire administrative division or prefecture had a registered population of 8.7 million people...
, Zhejiang
Zhejiang
Zhejiang is an eastern coastal province of the People's Republic of China. The word Zhejiang was the old name of the Qiantang River, which passes through Hangzhou, the provincial capital...
) and Zhendong (鎮東, headquartered in modern Shaoxing
Shaoxing
Shaoxing is a prefecture-level city in northeastern Zhejiang province, People's Republic of China. Located on the south bank of the Qiantang River estuary, it borders Ningbo to the east, Taizhou to the southeast, Jinhua to the southwest, and Hangzhou to the west. It was once known as "越"...
, Zhejiang
Zhejiang
Zhejiang is an eastern coastal province of the People's Republic of China. The word Zhejiang was the old name of the Qiantang River, which passes through Hangzhou, the provincial capital...
) — which made up the vast majority of Wuyue's territory — to Qian Chuanguan, while remaining king himself. It is unclear what title, if any, Lady Chen carried during Qian Liu's lifetime.
Qian Liu died in 932
932
Year 932 was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar.- Asia :* After an initial defeat, Mardavij took Tabaristan and Gurgan. Makan, whose attempts to recover his territories failed, entered the service of the Samanids.- Europe :* St...
, and Qian Chuanguan took over administration of the state (and changed his name to Qian Yuanguan), although for some time did not use the title of King of Wuyue but instead referred to himself by the military governor title (and, in succession, the Later Tang-bestowed titles of Prince of Wu and Prince of Yue) when reporting to Later Tang, to whom Wuyue was a vassal. (He would assume the king title only years after Lady Chen's death, in 937
937
Year 937 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Battle of Brunanburh: King Athelstan of England defeats the Viking king of Dublin, the Scots, and Strathclyde....
.) It was said that Qian Yuanguan was respectful and filially pious toward his mother. He also treated her family well, presenting them with many gifts, but never gave them offices on account of her. She died in the early Qingtai era (934
934
Year 934 was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar.- Asia :* The Ziyarid army occupies Ahvaz.* The Goryeo army defeats Hubaekje forces in present-day Hongseong County.- Europe :...
-936
936
Year 936 was a leap year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar.- Asia :* King Taejo of Goryeo defeats Hubaekje....
) of the Later Tang emperor Li Congke
Li Congke
Li Congke, Emperor Mo of Later Tang was the last emperor of the Later Tang Dynasty - the second of the Five Dynasties following the fall of the Tang Dynasty. He was adopted by Emperor Mingzong Li Siyuan. He succeeded to his adoptive brother Li Conghou by dethroning him...
and was posthumously created the Lady Dowager of Jin, with the posthumous name
Posthumous name
A posthumous name is an honorary name given to royalty, nobles, and sometimes others, in East Asia after the person's death, and is used almost exclusively instead of one's personal name or other official titles during his life...
of Zhaoyi ("accomplished and benevolent").