Life

Qian Chu came to power after his brother, Qian Zong, was deposed in a coup d'état. At the time, Wuyue was at its largest territorial extent, ruling 13 in modern-day Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Shanghai, and Fujian. Throughout its history, Wuyue maintained a policy of nominally submitting to the successive dominant northern regimes. Unlike the other small states in the south, the Wuyue kings never declared themselves Emperor. In return, the northern regimes respected Wuyue's autonomy and conferred upon its kings high honours, one of which was the title of "Commander of All Horses and Soldiers Under Heaven". Indeed, Qian Chu changed his name from the original Qian Hongchu, because the character hong was barred by taboo (as the name of Emperor Taizu of Song's father was Zhao Hongyin).

When the Song Dynasty unified northern China in the 960s, Qian Chu reportedly followed his ancestor Qian Liu's instruction to submit as soon as possible when the "true lord" appeared. In 960, Qian Chu submitted to Song, and changed his name in the same year. Subsequently, Qian Chu obeyed orders from the Song court to participate in the annexation of the other small southern kingdoms on behalf of the Song emperor. In 968, he was re-created the King of Wuyue by the Song emperor, and subsequently invested with further imperial honours. In 977, the new emperor Emperor Taizong of Song invested Qian with the nominal titles Chancellor, Chief Secretary, and Commander of All Horses and Soldiers Under Heaven.

However, in 978, Qian Chu surrendered his territories to the Song regime, possibly under veiled threat from the Song court. Nevertheless, the "voluntary" surrender protected the Wuyue region from the ravages of war that visited other contemporary regimes. The region was able to maintain its infrastructure and economic advantage, built up over the Wuyue period, which in no small part contributed to the Yangtze Delta being the economic centre of China up to the present day.

To allay northern suspicions and prevent conflict, Qian Chu stayed in the Song capital, Bianjing (now Kaifeng), and moved 3000 members of his household there. Qian nominally remained a king. His sons and a large number of the Wuyue elite were given various imperial posts and titles. Initially, Emperor Taizong of Song raised the prefecture of Yangzhou to the nominal state of Huaihai (淮海), and installed Qian Chu as King of Huaihai. In 984, Qian Chu was made King of Hannan (a smaller nominal feoff) instead, and in 987 reduced again to King of Nanyang, with the right to take up residence in Nanyang, but then immediately additionally created Prince of Xu (许王), with an enlarged feoff. In 988, Qian Chu lost his title as king and was made Prince of Deng (邓王) instead, with a larger nominal feoff and actual income.

Qian Chu reportedly enjoyed a good personal relationship with the emperor, being regularly summoned to the palace for banquets and ball games. On his 60th birthday (by the Chinese calendar) in 988, Emperor Taizong of Song sent him wine as a gift. After drinking the wine, he became violently ill and died that night. He was given a state funeral, posthumously raised to King of Qin, and buried near Luoyang.

Qian Chu had seven sons, one of whom went on to become a Chancellor in the Song court.

Other legacy

Qian Chu enjoyed writing poetry. One of his published poems survives to this day.

Like the other kings of Wuyue, Qian Chu was a devout Buddhist. Leifeng Pagoda in Hangzhou was constructed on his orders to celebrate the conception of his son and in some versions, for Consort Huang.

Personal information

• Father

　• Qian Yuanguan (King Wenmu)

• Mother

　• Lady Wu Hanyue

• Wives

　• Queen Sun Taizhen

　• Queen Yu

• Major Concubine

　• Consort Huang

• Children

　• Qian Weizhi (錢惟治) (949-1019), biological son of Qian Hongzong (King Zhongxun), posthumously created the Prince of Pengcheng

　• Qian Weijun (錢惟濬) (955-991), heir apparent, posthumously created Prince Anxi of Bin

　• Qian Weiyan (錢惟演) (962-1034), later Shumishi during Song, posthumously created the Duke of Ying

　• Qian Weixuan (錢惟渲)

　• Qian Weihao (錢惟灝)

　• Qian Weijin (錢惟溍)

　• Qian Weiji (錢惟濟) (978-1032)

家世

• 曾祖父：錢寬，威勝軍節度推官。

• 曾祖母：水丘氏，趙國太玄夫人。

• 祖父：錢鏐，吳越武肅王。

• 祖母：陳氏，晉國昭懿太夫人。

• 外祖父：吳珂，中直指揮使。

• 父親：錢元瓘，吳越文穆王。

• 母親：吳漢月，吳越國順德王太后。

生平

寶正四年八月二十四日（後唐天成四年，929年9月29日），錢弘俶生于杭州吳越王宮功臣堂，生母吳漢月。錢弘俶為吳越文穆王錢元瓘第九子，第五個親生兒子。累授內牙諸軍指揮使、檢校司空、檢校太尉。開運四年出鎮台州。異母兄長、忠遜王錢弘倧即位後，召錢弘俶返回杭州為同參相府事，居于南邸。

後漢天福十二年十二月三十（陽曆948年2月12日），吳越將領胡進思趁錢弘倧夜宴將吏時發動政變，錢弘倧被軟禁，錢弘俶被胡進思迎立為吳越王。乾祐元年正月乙卯，錢弘俶即位于杭州吳越王宮天寵堂。乾祐二年十月，後漢冊封錢弘俶為匡聖廣運同德保定功臣、東南面兵馬都元帥、鎮海鎮東等軍節度使、浙江東西等道管內觀察處置使兼兩浙鹽鐵製置發運營田等使、開府儀同三司、檢校太師、兼中書令、杭州越州大都督、上柱國、吳越國王，食邑一萬戶、實封一千戶。

錢弘俶嗣位三十餘年，期間恭事後漢、後周和北宋。後周廣順元年（951年）後周加封錢弘俶諸道兵馬都元帥，加食邑一千戶、實封三百戶，翌年封天下兵馬都元帥，加食邑二千戶、實封五百戶，改授推誠保德安邦致理忠正功臣。

後周顯德三年（956年）正月，錢弘俶奉後周世宗詔，出兵攻南唐。顯德五年四月，杭州城南失火，延燒內城，官府廬舍夷為平地，錢弘俶出居都城驛。後因大火即將燒及鎮國倉，乃命官兵伐林木，火勢方絕。儘管火災慘重，吳越仍在當月向後周進貢綾、絹各二萬匹，銀子一萬兩；當年七月又向後周進貢銀五千兩、絹一萬匹、龍舟一艘、天祿舟一艘，皆飾以銀；十一月又進貢賀正錢一千貫、絹一千匹。周恭帝加封錢弘俶為崇仁昭德宣忠保慶扶天亮功臣。

宋建隆元年（960年）正月，後周殿前都點檢趙匡胤發動陳橋兵變稱帝，改國號為宋，遣使宣諭吳越。當年三月，錢弘俶改名為錢俶，以避趙匡胤之父趙弘殷名諱。建隆元年四月，趙匡胤封錢俶為天下兵馬大元帥，加食邑一千戶，實封五百戶。乾德元年錢俶向宋朝進貢犀角、象牙各十株，香藥十五萬斤，珍珠、玳瑁器皿數百件，宋朝改賜錢俶為承家保國宣德守道忠貞恭順忠臣，加食邑一千戶、實封四百戶。乾德二年加封食邑一千戶、實封四百戶。當年十一月宋朝伐後蜀，錢俶派孫承佑率軍與宋會師。

開寶元年（968年），宋朝重新封錢俶為吳越國王，加食邑一千戶、實封一百戶，十二月再加封三千九百戶，實封三百戶。開寶四年加食邑二千戶、實封六百戶，改賜錢俶開吳鎮海崇文耀武宣德守道功臣。開寶七年（974年）七月，宋太祖詔錢俶出兵協助宋朝攻打江南國（南唐）。江南國主李煜寫信給錢俶尋求合作，說今日沒有江南，明日也就沒有吳越，等宋朝吞併了吳越，錢俶也就只是宋朝都城汴梁的一個布衣了。但錢俶卻把信交給了宋朝。錢俶率軍親征，攻打常州城。後來吳越又攻克江南重鎮潤州。年末，江南滅亡。翌年五月，宋朝賜錢俶守太師、尚書令，加食邑兩千戶、實封九百戶。

吳越對宋謹遵事大之禮，世子錢惟濬曾四次入使宋朝，宋太祖亦屢賜錢俶御衣、劍佩、玉帶、玉鞍、金銀器、錦繡、金鎖甲、御酒、馬、羊、駝等物，及生辰禮物。

開寶九年（976年）正月，錢俶攜王妃孫氏、世子錢惟濬自杭州出發，前往汴京覲見宋太祖，宋太祖命在禮賢宅為錢俶營建府第。錢俶貢通犀玉帶、寶玉金器五千餘件、上酒一千瓶、銀十六萬兩、絹十一萬匹、乳香五萬斤，宋太祖賞賜錢俶黃金照匣、黃金鈔鑼、金二千兩、銀三萬兩、絹二萬匹，賜以劍履上殿、詔書不名之禮。宋太祖宴錢俶于迎春苑，並許以「盡我一世」及「誓不殺錢王」之語。及錢俶辭行，宋太祖賞賜錦衣、玉帶、玉鞍、玳瑁鞭，及金銀錦彩二十餘萬、銀裝兵器八百餘件，又賜王妃金器三百兩、衣料二千匹、銀二千兩。又給錢俶黃袱一件，囑曰「途中密視」。錢俶中途開袱檢視，皆宋朝諸臣勸說扣留錢俶的奏章。當年五月、十一月，宋朝又兩次加封錢俶食邑八千戶、實封兩千戶。

開寶九年十月，宋太祖在宮中斧聲燭影而駕崩，其弟晉王趙光義即位，為宋太宗。太平興國二年（977年，宋太宗即位，當年改元）三月封錢俶為尚書令、兼中書令、天下兵馬大元帥。

獻土

太平興國三年二月，錢俶自杭州出發，再次入宋朝覲。宋太宗賜宴于長春殿，命南唐後主違命侯李煜、南漢末帝恩赦侯劉鋹陪座。錢俶上吳越軍甲器物名冊，又乞辭天下兵馬大元帥，宋太宗不許。

五月乙酉（978年6月9日），隨同朝覲的吳越丞相崔仁冀勸錢俶上表納土，否則禍患立至。錢俶遂當即上奏，獻吳越國十三州、一軍、八十六縣、戶五十五萬六百八十、兵一十一萬五千三十六于宋。

宋太宗升揚州為淮海國，虛封錢俶為淮海國王，食邑一萬戶、實封一千戶，仍充天下兵馬大元帥、守太師、尚書令、兼中書令，授寧淮鎮海崇文耀武宣德守道功臣，賜劍履上殿。王世子錢惟濬為節度使兼侍中，其餘各子亦授節度使、團練使、刺史等官。吳越幕僚宰相以下拜官者兩千五百餘人。

錢俶獻土後居于東京禮賢宅，屢被宋太宗召入宮中賜宴、擊球，並多次賞賜金銀器、水晶、瑪瑙、珊瑚、珍珠、龍涎香、貢茶、銀、錢、絹等物，加食邑二萬戶、實封兩千戶。太平興國四年，錢俶隨宋太宗征北漢。雍熙元年改封漢南國王，加食邑兩千戶、實封兩百戶。

雍熙四年宋太宗改封錢俶為武勝軍節度使、南陽國王，出居南陽，賜玉帶、金唾壺；旋又加封為許王，加食邑一萬戶、實封兩千戶，賜安時鎮國崇文耀武宣德守道功臣。端拱元年改封錢俶為鄧王，加食邑一萬戶、實封三千戶。

端拱元年八月二十四日（988年10月7日），錢俶六十大壽，宋太宗遣皇城使李惠、河州團練使王繼恩至南陽，賜錢俶生辰禮物。錢俶與使者宴飲極歡。當天傍晚，錢俶在南陽住宅西軒命左右讀《唐書》，又令子孫頌詩，忽然因風眩（腦卒中）發作，而于四漏時薨逝。或有懷疑其被毒殺者。

錢俶去世時的封號為安時鎮國崇文耀武宣德守道中正功臣、武勝軍節度使、開府儀同三司、守太師、尚書令兼中書令、使持節鄧州諸軍事、行鄧州刺史、上柱國、鄧王、食邑九萬七千戶、實封一萬六千九百戶、賜劍履上殿、詔書不名。宋太宗為其廢朝七日，追封秦國王，賜謚號忠懿，葬于洛陽賢相里陶公原。宋真宗時，特詔追贈錢俶為尚父。有司請以禮賢宅為司天監，真宗不許。

錢俶好吟詠，自編其詩為《政本集》，陶穀為序，共十卷，今存一首「宮中作」。

家庭

妻

• 孫妃（孫太真）

• 俞妃（俞氏）

此外因雷峰塔跋文著錄錯誤而出現虛構的黃妃。

子女

八子

• 錢惟濬，字禹川。吳越國冊為世子，封鎮海、鎮東兩軍節度副大使、檢校太保、鈐轄兩浙管內土客諸軍事、檢校太傅、建武軍節度使、檢校太尉。入宋後封淮南節度使、安遠軍節度使、開府儀同三司、檢校太師兼中書令、蕭國公。性放蕩無檢，因沉溺酒色而早卒，追封邠王，謚安僖。子錢守吉官至西京作坊使、錢守讓官至東染院使。

• 錢惟治，字世和。本為忠遜王錢弘倧長子，被錢俶收為己子。累封兩浙牙內諸軍指揮使、判軍糧營田事、德化軍使、寧遠軍節度使、檢校太尉。錢俶及世子入宋朝覲，命錢惟治為權國事。入宋後封鎮國軍節度使、知真州府兼兵馬都部署、右武衛上將軍、左驍騎上將軍、左神武統軍，追贈太師、彭城郡王。書法工二王，草隸尤絕。

• 錢惟渲，入宋後封韶州團練使、濰州團練使

• 錢惟灝，入宋後封賀州團練使、昭州刺史

• 錢惟溍，入宋後封武衛將軍、左龍武將軍、演州刺史

• 錢惟漼（錢從釋），出家為僧，法名淨照

• 錢惟演，字希聖。入宋後封右神武將軍、衙內都指揮使，累任翰林學士、工部侍郎、樞密副使、太子賓客、工部尚書、兵部尚書、保大軍節度使、中書門下平章事、判許州、武勝軍節度使、泰寧軍節度使、崇信軍節度使，追封英國公、贈侍中。子錢暄封冀國公，孫錢景臻封會稽郡王，曾孫錢忱封榮國公。

• 錢惟濟，字岩夫，入宋後封衙內指揮使、恩州刺史、東染院使、封州刺史、永州團練使、知成德軍、檢校司空、虔州觀察使、吉州防禦使、知定州，升武昌軍節度觀察留後。追贈平江節度使，謚宣惠。

錢弘俶親子、從子人數眾多，見于史書者唯錢惟濬、錢惟治、錢惟演、錢惟濟等數人而已。

七女

• 長女，夫河東裴祚

• 次女，夫錢塘元象宗

• 第三女 夫汝南慎從吉

• 第四女 夫富春孫誧

• 第五女 夫富春孫誘

• 第六女

• 第七女

有一女嫁劉美

影視作品

電視劇

注釋