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

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

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

　• Qian Weixuan (钱惟渲)

　• Qian Weihao (钱惟灏)

　• Qian Weijin (钱惟溍)

　• Qian Weiji (钱惟济) (978-1032)

家世

• 曾祖父：钱宽，威胜军节度推官。

• 曾祖母：水丘氏，赵国太玄夫人。

• 祖父：钱鏐，吴越武肃王。

• 祖母：陈氏，晋国昭懿太夫人。

• 外祖父：吴珂，中直指挥使。

• 父亲：钱元瓘，吴越文穆王。

• 母亲：吴汉月，吴越国顺德王太后。

生平

宝正四年八月二十四日（后唐天成四年，929年9月29日），钱弘俶生于杭州吴越王宫功臣堂，生母吴汉月。钱弘俶为吴越文穆王钱元瓘第九子，第五个亲生儿子。累授内牙诸军指挥使、检校司空、检校太尉。开运四年出镇台州。异母兄长、忠逊王钱弘倧即位后，召钱弘俶返回杭州为同参相府事，居于南邸。

后汉天福十二年十二月三十（阳历948年2月12日），吴越将领胡进思趁钱弘倧夜宴将吏时发动政变，钱弘倧被软禁，钱弘俶被胡进思迎立为吴越王。乾佑元年正月乙卯，钱弘俶即位于杭州吴越王宫天宠堂。乾佑二年十月，后汉册封钱弘俶为匡圣广运同德保定功臣、东南面兵马都元帅、镇海镇东等军节度使、浙江东西等道管内观察处置使兼两浙盐铁制置发运营田等使、开府仪同三司、检校太师、兼中书令、杭州越州大都督、上柱国、吴越国王，食邑一万户、实封一千户。

钱弘俶嗣位三十馀年，期间恭事后汉、后周和北宋。后周广顺元年（951年）后周加封钱弘俶诸道兵马都元帅，加食邑一千户、实封三百户，翌年封天下兵马都元帅，加食邑二千户、实封五百户，改授推诚保德安邦致理忠正功臣。

后周显德三年（956年）正月，钱弘俶奉后周世宗诏，出兵攻南唐。显德五年四月，杭州城南失火，延烧内城，官府庐舍夷为平地，钱弘俶出居都城驿。后因大火即将烧及镇国仓，乃命官兵伐林木，火势方绝。尽管火灾惨重，吴越仍在当月向后周进贡绫、绢各二万匹，银子一万两；当年七月又向后周进贡银五千两、绢一万匹、龙舟一艘、天禄舟一艘，皆饰以银；十一月又进贡贺正钱一千贯、绢一千匹。周恭帝加封钱弘俶为崇仁昭德宣忠保庆扶天亮功臣。

宋建隆元年（960年）正月，后周殿前都点检赵匡胤发动陈桥兵变称帝，改国号为宋，遣使宣谕吴越。当年三月，钱弘俶改名为钱俶，以避赵匡胤之父赵弘殷名讳。建隆元年四月，赵匡胤封钱俶为天下兵马大元帅，加食邑一千户，实封五百户。乾德元年钱俶向宋朝进贡犀角、象牙各十株，香药十五万斤，珍珠、玳瑁器皿数百件，宋朝改赐钱俶为承家保国宣德守道忠贞恭顺忠臣，加食邑一千户、实封四百户。乾德二年加封食邑一千户、实封四百户。当年十一月宋朝伐后蜀，钱俶派孙承佑率军与宋会师。

开宝元年（968年），宋朝重新封钱俶为吴越国王，加食邑一千户、实封一百户，十二月再加封三千九百户，实封三百户。开宝四年加食邑二千户、实封六百户，改赐钱俶开吴镇海崇文耀武宣德守道功臣。开宝七年（974年）七月，宋太祖诏钱俶出兵协助宋朝攻打江南国（南唐）。江南国主李煜写信给钱俶寻求合作，说今日没有江南，明日也就没有吴越，等宋朝吞并了吴越，钱俶也就只是宋朝都城汴梁的一个布衣了。但钱俶却把信交给了宋朝。钱俶率军亲征，攻打常州城。后来吴越又攻克江南重镇润州。年末，江南灭亡。翌年五月，宋朝赐钱俶守太师、尚书令，加食邑两千户、实封九百户。

吴越对宋谨遵事大之礼，世子钱惟浚曾四次入使宋朝，宋太祖亦屡赐钱俶御衣、剑佩、玉带、玉鞍、金银器、锦绣、金锁甲、御酒、马、羊、驼等物，及生辰礼物。

开宝九年（976年）正月，钱俶携王妃孙氏、世子钱惟浚自杭州出发，前往汴京觐见宋太祖，宋太祖命在礼贤宅为钱俶营建府第。钱俶贡通犀玉带、宝玉金器五千馀件、上酒一千瓶、银十六万两、绢十一万匹、乳香五万斤，宋太祖赏赐钱俶黄金照匣、黄金钞锣、金二千两、银三万两、绢二万匹，赐以剑履上殿、诏书不名之礼。宋太祖宴钱俶于迎春苑，并许以「尽我一世」及「誓不杀钱王」之语。及钱俶辞行，宋太祖赏赐锦衣、玉带、玉鞍、玳瑁鞭，及金银锦彩二十馀万、银装兵器八百馀件，又赐王妃金器三百两、衣料二千匹、银二千两。又给钱俶黄袱一件，嘱曰「途中密视」。钱俶中途开袱检视，皆宋朝诸臣劝说扣留钱俶的奏章。当年五月、十一月，宋朝又两次加封钱俶食邑八千户、实封两千户。

开宝九年十月，宋太祖在宫中斧声烛影而驾崩，其弟晋王赵光义即位，为宋太宗。太平兴国二年（977年，宋太宗即位，当年改元）三月封钱俶为尚书令、兼中书令、天下兵马大元帅。

献土

太平兴国三年二月，钱俶自杭州出发，再次入宋朝觐。宋太宗赐宴于长春殿，命南唐后主违命侯李煜、南汉末帝恩赦侯刘鋹陪座。钱俶上吴越军甲器物名册，又乞辞天下兵马大元帅，宋太宗不许。

五月乙酉（978年6月9日），随同朝觐的吴越丞相崔仁冀劝钱俶上表纳土，否则祸患立至。钱俶遂当即上奏，献吴越国十三州、一军、八十六县、户五十五万六百八十、兵一十一万五千三十六于宋。

宋太宗升扬州为淮海国，虚封钱俶为淮海国王，食邑一万户、实封一千户，仍充天下兵马大元帅、守太师、尚书令、兼中书令，授宁淮镇海崇文耀武宣德守道功臣，赐剑履上殿。王世子钱惟浚为节度使兼侍中，其馀各子亦授节度使、团练使、刺史等官。吴越幕僚宰相以下拜官者两千五百馀人。

钱俶献土后居于东京礼贤宅，屡被宋太宗召入宫中赐宴、击球，并多次赏赐金银器、水晶、玛瑙、珊瑚、珍珠、龙涎香、贡茶、银、钱、绢等物，加食邑二万户、实封两千户。太平兴国四年，钱俶随宋太宗征北汉。雍熙元年改封汉南国王，加食邑两千户、实封两百户。

雍熙四年宋太宗改封钱俶为武胜军节度使、南阳国王，出居南阳，赐玉带、金唾壶；旋又加封为许王，加食邑一万户、实封两千户，赐安时镇国崇文耀武宣德守道功臣。端拱元年改封钱俶为邓王，加食邑一万户、实封三千户。

端拱元年八月二十四日（988年10月7日），钱俶六十大寿，宋太宗遣皇城使李惠、河州团练使王继恩至南阳，赐钱俶生辰礼物。钱俶与使者宴饮极欢。当天傍晚，钱俶在南阳住宅西轩命左右读《唐书》，又令子孙颂诗，忽然因风眩（脑卒中）发作，而于四漏时薨逝。或有怀疑其被毒杀者。

钱俶去世时的封号为安时镇国崇文耀武宣德守道中正功臣、武胜军节度使、开府仪同三司、守太师、尚书令兼中书令、使持节邓州诸军事、行邓州刺史、上柱国、邓王、食邑九万七千户、实封一万六千九百户、赐剑履上殿、诏书不名。宋太宗为其废朝七日，追封秦国王，赐谥号忠懿，葬于洛阳贤相里陶公原。宋真宗时，特诏追赠钱俶为尚父。有司请以礼贤宅为司天监，真宗不许。

钱俶好吟咏，自编其诗为《政本集》，陶谷为序，共十卷，今存一首「宫中作」。

家庭

妻

• 孙妃（孙太真）

• 俞妃（俞氏）

此外因雷峰塔跋文著录错误而出现虚构的黄妃。

子女

八子

• 钱惟浚，字禹川。吴越国册为世子，封镇海、镇东两军节度副大使、检校太保、钤辖两浙管内土客诸军事、检校太傅、建武军节度使、检校太尉。入宋后封淮南节度使、安远军节度使、开府仪同三司、检校太师兼中书令、萧国公。性放荡无检，因沉溺酒色而早卒，追封邠王，谥安僖。子钱守吉官至西京作坊使、钱守让官至东染院使。

• 钱惟治，字世和。本为忠逊王钱弘倧长子，被钱俶收为己子。累封两浙牙内诸军指挥使、判军粮营田事、德化军使、宁远军节度使、检校太尉。钱俶及世子入宋朝觐，命钱惟治为权国事。入宋后封镇国军节度使、知真州府兼兵马都部署、右武卫上将军、左骁骑上将军、左神武统军，追赠太师、彭城郡王。书法工二王，草隶尤绝。

• 钱惟渲，入宋后封韶州团练使、潍州团练使

• 钱惟灏，入宋后封贺州团练使、昭州刺史

• 钱惟溍，入宋后封武卫将军、左龙武将军、演州刺史

• 钱惟漼（钱从释），出家为僧，法名净照

• 钱惟演，字希圣。入宋后封右神武将军、衙内都指挥使，累任翰林学士、工部侍郎、枢密副使、太子宾客、工部尚书、兵部尚书、保大军节度使、中书门下平章事、判许州、武胜军节度使、泰宁军节度使、崇信军节度使，追封英国公、赠侍中。子钱暄封冀国公，孙钱景臻封会稽郡王，曾孙钱忱封荣国公。

• 钱惟济，字岩夫，入宋后封衙内指挥使、恩州刺史、东染院使、封州刺史、永州团练使、知成德军、检校司空、虔州观察使、吉州防御使、知定州，升武昌军节度观察留后。追赠平江节度使，谥宣惠。

钱弘俶亲子、从子人数众多，见于史书者唯钱惟浚、钱惟治、钱惟演、钱惟济等数人而已。

七女

• 长女，夫河东裴祚

• 次女，夫钱塘元象宗

• 第三女 夫汝南慎从吉

• 第四女 夫富春孙誧

• 第五女 夫富春孙诱

• 第六女

• 第七女

有一女嫁刘美

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