生平

出身贫寒

唐朝大中六年二月十六日，钱鏐生于临安县石镜乡大官山下的临水里钱坞垄。父亲钱宽，母亲水丘氏。一家以农耕打渔为生。传说钱鏐出生时突现红光，且相貌奇丑，父亲本欲弃之，但因其祖母怜惜，最后得以保全性命，因此钱鏐小名「婆留」（「阿婆留其命」之义）。

钱鏐自幼不喜诗文，偏好习武，常与邻里诸小儿戏于里中大木之下，指挥群儿为队伍，号令颇有法（钱鏐即位后将此树封为「将军木」）。钱鏐在16岁的时候就弃学贩盐。当时私贩盐料是官府严厉禁止的，但由于利润极高，因此钱鏐铤而走险，在杭州、越州（今绍兴）、宣州等地贩卖私盐和粮食。这段贩卖私盐的经历，练就了钱鏐体魄和胆略，也为他日后发展提供了充足的经济基础。

跟随董昌

17岁开始，钱鏐苦练硬弓长矛，并读些《孙子兵法》，史书称其「善射与槊，稍通图纬诸书」。到21岁时，他在石镜镇充当「义兵」，并将小名「钱婆留」改为大名「钱鏐」（其为金字辈，并取「留」字音，故改「鏐」）。由于钱鏐武艺高强，受到石镜镇指挥使董昌重用，经过平定王郢、朱直管、曹师雄、王知新等叛乱之后，逐渐提拔为偏将、副指挥使、兵马使、镇海军右副使等职。

879年（唐僖宗乾符六年）七月，黄巢起义军进犯临安。钱鏐以少敌多，巧妙运用伏击和虚张声势等战术，阻吓了黄巢军的进攻。880年，唐朝内乱四起，为保护地方安定，董昌、钱鏐联合各县民团，建立「八都军」（临安县「石镜都」、馀杭县「清平都」、于潜县「于潜都」、盐官县「盐官都」、新城县「武安都」、唐山县「唐山都」、富阳县「富春都」和龙泉县「龙泉都」），次年，钱鏐授「都知兵马使」，并注意团结各都力量和下层头目，还将其弟钱銶、钱镒、钱铧、钱镖，以及儿子钱元璙、钱元瓘等人安插到部队中担任将领，从而将八都军逐渐培养成坚强的嫡系部队。

平定两浙

唐末、五代时期所称「两浙十四州」，包括现在浙江全境和江苏长江以南部分地区。七五八年，江南东道下属的浙江东道 和浙江西道 共有十四州，其中除去润州和常州，再加上福建的福州和临安县的安国衣锦军，共为一军十三州，号称「十四州」，便是钱鏐创立的吴越国的大致范围。

开疆拓土（875年－896年）

自讨伐王郢起，钱鏐身经百战，先后与刘汉宏、董昌等地方主要军阀作战，最终平定了两浙范围内的敌对势力，建立了巩固的地方割据政权。

882年7月起，占据浙东的义胜军节度使刘汉宏发兵西进，欲并吞浙西。董昌、钱鏐率八都军在钱塘江边御敌。由于出奇制胜，加上利用江上夜雾遮掩，钱鏐突袭敌营，获得首胜。之后，又在江干、富阳、诸暨、萧山西陵等地屡败刘军。最后，刘汉宏亲自督战，率十万大军与钱鏐在萧山西陵一带决战，结果被钱鏐击溃，刘汉宏本人易装成屠户逃跑。这一次西陵大捷，是钱鏐取得的第一次重大战果，据说，从此钱鏐将西陵改名为西兴至今（现钱江三桥又名「西兴大桥」）。

此后，刘汉宏仍不断骚扰浙西，导致董昌和钱鏐决心彻底平定浙东之患。886年10起，钱鏐仅用了2个月左右的时间，就率军攻克越州，并将潜逃被捕的刘汉宏斩于会稽街市。此后，钱鏐为杭州刺史，董昌升任浙东观察使、检校太尉、陇西郡王等职。

董昌其人昏庸残暴，野心日增，随后就即位称帝，国号大越罗平，改元顺天。895年2月，唐朝封钱鏐为浙东招讨使，令其讨伐董昌。但钱鏐起初感念董昌提携之恩，犹豫不决，但董昌却联合淮南杨行密偷袭苏州、杭州，最终使得钱鏐下定决心，攻克越州。董昌在被押付杭州途中，心存惭愧，投江自杀。从此，钱鏐基本控制两浙，并于896年10月，被授为镇海、镇东军节度使，加检校太尉，兼中书令。

897年8月，鉴于钱鏐招讨董昌有功，唐昭宗特赐金书铁券于他，免其本人九死或子孙三死。这件钱鏐铁券后经宋代陆游、明代刘基等人为其写跋，还呈宋太宗、宋仁宗、宋神宗、明太祖、明成祖和清高宗等七位帝王御览。900年，为了表彰钱王的功绩，唐王朝派人取钱鏐画像，悬于凌烟阁。

保卫巩固（896年－919年）

钱鏐在平定了两浙内部的敌对势力后，基本停止了大规模的征讨。但由于三面受敌，仍经历了多次边境保卫战，有时还将战斗延伸至江西的信州（今上饶）和虔州（今赣州）等地。其主要对手就是淮南军阀杨行密和内部的「徐许之乱」。

钱鏐和杨行密的关系时而友好，时而敌对，体现出五代十国乱世的特点。双方的冲突共持续了三十年，其间钱曾出兵援助杨擒斩孙儒、安仁义等叛逆，并正式通婚，但也因董昌之战等发生过激烈的战斗。最后通过两次衣锦军保卫战和一次狼山江之战，才结束了双方的敌对状态。从此两浙地区进入休养生息的安定建设阶段。

902年，钱鏐刚被封为越王不久，其部下的徐绾和许再思起兵叛变，使钱鏐大伤元气。最后钱鏐支付了二十万缗犒军钱，并派两个儿子作为人质，才使得叛军撤兵。这次内乱后，钱鏐吸取了教训，治国更为谨慎。

904年被封为吴王；907年，后梁封钱鏐为吴越王，吴越国自此创建。龙德三年（923年），钱鏐被册封为吴越国王，吴越建立王国体制。他改府署为朝廷，设置丞相、侍郎等百官，一切礼制皆按照君主的规格。

内政治理（919年－932年）

结束了与周边敌对势力的战争后，钱鏐开始转向对内的大规模经济和文化建设。唐大顺元年（890年）钱鏐开始著手建设杭州城。先后建造了夹城、罗城和子城。杭州罗城筑于唐景福元年（892年）七月，筑城时发动馀杭、盐官、新城、唐山、富阳、龙泉「八都兵」，及紫溪、保城、龙通、三泉、三镇，合计「十三都兵」二十馀万人。城区范围广袤七十里，四至分别是：南到六和塔；东至侯潮门和艮山门一线；北达武林门；西临涌金门和清波门一带，设朝天门、龙山门、竹车门、南土门、北土门、盐桥门、西关门（涵水门）、北关门、宝德门共十门。天宝三年（910年）又扩杭州城，凤凰山柳浦隋唐所筑子城被改造为府城，南为通越门，北为只门，子城内大修台馆，有天册堂（即王位之所）、天宠堂（即位、理政之所）、思政堂、功臣堂（寝宫）、握发殿、咸宁院、义和院、碧波亭、虚白堂、八会亭、都会堂、蓬莱阁、直仪门（设厅）、青史楼、天长楼、玉华楼、瑞萼园等建筑。钱鏐筑杭州城，在客观上为杭州成为日后南宋的都城打下了基础，南宋临安宫城即原吴越王宫。

钱王还在城内开凿水井（据说杭州的百井坊巷原有99眼，就开凿于此时），建设钱塘江堤，为杭州的饮水淡化问题做出了很大贡献。此外，钱鏐及其继承者崇信佛教，前后修建了不少寺院佛塔，使杭州在当时就有「佛国」之称。其中著名的灵隐寺、净慈寺、昭庆寺等寺院，以及雷峰塔、六和塔、保俶塔、闸口白塔和临安功臣塔等都是在吴越国时期兴建或扩建的。

钱鏐在内政建设上的主要成就体现在修筑海塘和疏浚内湖上。910年起，钱鏐上书后梁朝廷，指出「目击平原沃野，尽成江水汪洋，虽值干戈扰攘之后，即兴筑塘修堤之举。」，并开始著手修筑钱塘江沿岸石塘。由于钱江潮汛，工程进展困难，后钱鏐以竹器填以巨石，才奠定了基础。当时修筑的石塘，从六和塔一直到艮山门，长33万8593丈。此外，钱鏐还重点抓了疏浚西湖、太湖和鉴湖等工作。当时他设置了7000名撩湖兵，专门从事西湖的开浚工作，后代的苏轼也是在参考了钱鏐治湖的经验上，才开始大规模疏浚西湖。

然而据欧阳修《五代史》吴越世家所称，吴越自钱鏐时起，赋税繁苛，小至鸡、鱼、鸡卵、鸡雏，也要纳税。贫民欠税被捉到官府，按各税欠数多少定笞数，往往积至笞数十以至百馀（一说五百馀），民尤不胜其苦。于杭州建造「地上天宫」，耗尽民财民力。

钱鏐做节度使时，有人献诗，诗中有「一条江水槛前流」句，「前流」与「钱鏐」是谐音，钱鏐认为献诗人讽刺自己，于是暗杀此人。罗隐声名大，曾作诗讥笑钱鏐出身寒家，钱鏐却欣然不怒。钱鏐留心收买名士，皮日休（当时黄巢失败后，逃来依靠钱鏐）、罗隐、胡岳等都得到优待，自己也学吟咏，与名士唱和。天宝三年十月钱鏐巡视故乡衣锦军，置酒宴请父老，赏八十岁以上者金樽，百岁以上者玉樽，又作《还乡歌》：「三节还乡兮挂锦衣，碧天朗朗兮爱日晖。功臣道上兮列旌旗，父老远来兮相追随。家山乡眷兮会时稀，今朝设宴兮觥散飞。斗牛无孛兮民无欺，吴越一王兮驷马归」。父老不解其意，钱鏐复用吴语为歌：「你辈见侬底欢喜，则是一般滋味子，长在我侬心底里」，举座叫笑振席。

由于钱鏐在其晚年坚持保境安民政策，不参与军阀混战，而且对内统治相对廉洁清明，使得这一时期杭州的发展超越了中原地区的许多大城市，成为东南地区的经济中心。

封号、谥号、庙号、年号

后唐长兴三年三月二十八日（932年5月6日），钱鏐逝世于临安王府正寝内，享寿八十一岁，在位四十一年。安葬于安国县衣锦乡茅山，建庙于东府。后唐赐谥号武肃，吴越国上庙号太祖。

钱鏐累事三朝，唐、后梁、后唐屡加封号，累赐启圣匡运同德功臣、定乱安国启圣昌运同德守道戴功臣、淮南镇海镇东等军节度使、淮南浙江东西等道管内观察处置、充淮南四面都统营田安抚、兼两浙盐铁制置发运等使、天下兵马都元帅、开府仪同三司、尚父、检校太师、尚书令、兼中书令、上柱国、吴越国王，赐剑履上殿、诏书不名，食邑一万五千户。

欧阳修《五代史》称吴越「有改元而无称帝之事」。吴越国从908年（后梁开平二年）至913年（后梁乾化三年），曾用天宝年号；924年（后唐同光二年）至931年（后唐长兴二年）用宝大、宝正年号，皆仅行于吴越国中。

后世评价

后世一般对钱氏评价较高，认为他促进了地方经济发展，保障了民众安居乐业的局面。主要有：

:「时维五纪乱何如？史册闲观亦皱眉。是地却逢钱节度，民间无事看花嬉！」——北宋·赵拚

:「钱立国，置营田数千人于松江，辟土而耕，…民老死无他缠累，且完国归朝，不杀一人，则其功德大矣！」—— 明·朱国桢

史书载钱鏐性俭朴，衣衾杂用细布，常膳用瓷器、漆器。除夕子夜与子孙宴于府城内，未鼓数曲而令罢宴，称「闻者以我为长夜之歌」。其寝居之殿名为「握发殿」，取周公「一沐三握发」典故。

欧阳修在《新五代史·吴越世家》中谴责钱氏严刑酷法。而宋代别史《丹铅录》称，欧阳修为推官时，昵一妓，比而为忠懿王之子钱惟演得去，欧阳修深衔之，后作《五代史》时乃诬以钱氏诸王「重敛虐民」之语，以公报私。钱世昭撰《钱氏私志》也称欧阳修是挟怨报复。

目前在西湖南岸，建有钱王祠，供后人瞻仰钱王业绩。

家庭

妻妾

• 马氏，马绰之妹。

• 昭懿夫人陈氏，名字，家世，籍贯均不详，生长子钱元琏、七子文穆王钱元瓘、十一子钱元瑾、十六子钱元裕、十七子钱元佑、十八子钱元弼、十九子钱元邧、钱元(王𣶒)。死后追赠晋国太夫人，谥昭懿。

• 庄穆夫人吴氏（857年－919年），嫡妻，生三子钱元瑛、六子钱元璙、十子钱元㻑、十四子钱元璛、十五子钱元璟、二十三子钱元琳

• 庆安夫人胡氏，生次子钱元玑、四子钱元璲、十二子钱元珦、二十子钱元琢、钱元禧

• 金氏，生第五子钱元懿、九子钱元球、十三子钱元玧、二十二子钱元璫、钱元珣

• 章氏，生二十一子钱元璞

• 童氏，生钱元琛、钱元璝

• 小陈氏，生钱元璠、钱元勖

• 郑氏，宠姬，以父犯死罪出

子女

子

• 钱元琏

• 钱元玑 宛陵县侯，又晋封宁国公

• 钱元瑛 追封云国公

• 钱元璲 永嘉县侯

• 钱元懿（钱元璹）金华郡王，同中书门下平章事，太师，中书令

• 钱元璙 追封广陵宣义王，苏州刺史

• 钱元瓘 吴越王，天下兵马都元帅

• 钱元(王瞿) 馀姚县侯，金吾卫大将军

• 钱元球 大彭县侯，扶南侯，明州置制使（937年被钱元瓘处决）

• 钱元㻑 金华县侯，义州刺史

• 钱元瑾

• 钱元珦 淮阴侯（937年被钱元瓘处决）

• 钱元玧（钱元琰） 峦州刺史

• 钱元璛（钱元琇） 新安侯

• 钱元璟 霅国公

• 钱元裕（891年－？，母陈氏）

• 钱元佑 静海军节度使

• 钱元弼 秀州刺史

• 钱元邧（钱元玩） 温州刺史

• 钱元琢（898年－？，母胡氏）

• 钱元璞 钱塘侯

• 钱元璫

• 钱元琳 吴兴侯

• 钱元珣（911年－？，母金氏）

• 钱元(王𣶒)（912年－？，母陈氏）

• 钱元琛（922年－？，母童氏）

• 钱元璠（925年－？，母小陈氏）

• 钱元璝 追封宁明王

• 钱元勖（927年－？，母小陈氏）

• 钱元禧（929年－？，母胡氏）

• 钱元圭

• 钱元𤪙 驸马都尉

• （失名）

女

• 有史可查者，仅一人

• 钱氏，成仁琇妻，成及儿媳

影视作品

电视剧

相关条目

• 朱温

• 罗隐

• 顾全武

• 钱王祠

• 吴越钱氏

• 吴越国王陵

脚注

Background

Qian Liu was born in Lin'an County in 852, during the reign of Emperor Xuānzong of Tang. His father was named Qian Kuan, and his mother, who was from the same clan as his paternal grandmother, was Qian Kuan's wife Lady Shuiqiu. He had four younger brothers—Qian Qi (钱锜), Qian Biao (钱镖), Qian Duo (钱铎), and Qian Hua (钱铧)—all of whom were described in the Spring and Autumn Annals of the Ten Kingdoms (十国春秋) as "brothers of the same father," implying, but not definitely stating, that they were not born of Lady Shuiqiu. In his childhood neighborhood, there was a huge tree. When he played with the other children in the neighborhood near the tree, he would sit on a large rock and order the other children to march in formations; the other children feared him and followed his orders. After he grew up, he did not have a legitimate job, so he became a salt privateer. He befriended several sons of the county secretary Zhong Qi (锺起) and often drank and gambled with them. Zhong, however, disliked Qian and initially forbade his sons from associating with Qian until, on one occasion, a traveling fortuneteller informed both Qian and Zhong that Qian would one day be extremely honored. Only after that did Zhong allow his sons to associate with Qian. Zhong's sons often gave Qian money. During this time, Qian was described to be good at archery and using spears, and he had a basic understanding of mystical texts.

Service under Dong Chang and takeover of Zhenhai Circuit

During the rebellion of the army officer Wang Ying in 876-877, Qian and Dong Chang, also from Lin'an, joined a local militia to defend against Wang's raids. After Wang's rebellion was defeated, Dong, for his contributions during the campaign, was made the defender of Shijing Base (石镜, in modern Hangzhou, Zhejiang), and Qian became a commander under Dong. In 878, when the agrarian rebel Cao Shixiong (曹师雄) was pillaging both Zhenhai Circuit (镇海, headquartered in modern Zhenjiang, Jiangsu), which Hang Prefecture (which Shijing and Lin'an belonged to) was a part of, and Zhedong Circuit (浙东, headquartered in modern Shaoxing, Zhejiang), the Hang Prefecture government tried to resist the pillages by recruiting 1,000 men from each of the counties in the prefecture. Dong and seven others became the militia commanders, and their troops became known as the "Eight Corps of Hang Prefecture." Subsequently, when soldiers under the major agrarian rebel Huang Chao pillaged Zhenhai, Qian repelled the pillaging Huang army.

In 881, after Huang headed northwest and captured the imperial capital Chang'an, forcing then-reigning Emperor Xizong (Emperor Xuānzong's grandson) to flee to Chengdu, Gao Pian the military governor (Jiedushi) of Huainan Circuit (淮南, headquartered in modern Yangzhou, Jiangsu) gathered troops in the nearby regions and claimed that he was going to launch troops to recapture Chang'an. As part of that, he summoned Dong to Huainan's capital Yang Prefecture (扬州) as well. However, Qian discerned that Gao had no real intentions to attack Huang, and he advised Dong to claim that he needed to return to Hang Prefecture to defend it. Dong did so, and Gao agreed to let him leave. Meanwhile, the imperial government had just recently commissioned a new prefect of Hang Prefecture, Lu Shenzhong (路审中). Before Lu could get to Hang Prefecture, however, Dong took his troops from Shijing into Hang Prefecture to intimidate Lu. Lu, fearful of Dong, did not take office. Dong then claimed the title of acting prefect, and had his officers submit petitions to the military governor of Zhenhai, Zhou Bao, to have Dong be officially commissioned. Zhou, believing that he could not control Dong otherwise, made Dong the prefect of Hang Prefecture.

In 882, Liu Hanhong the governor (观察使, Guanchashi) of Zhedong, who wanted to take over Zhenhai, sent his brother Liu Hanyou (刘汉宥) and officer Xin Yue (辛约) to attack Hang Prefecture. Dong sent Qian to resist the Zhedong army, and Qian defeated them, forcing them to flee. Liu made another attack in 883, and Dong's army, under Qian, again defeated the Zhedong army, killing Xin and Liu Hanhong's brother Liu Hanrong (刘汉容).

In 886, Dong and Qian were discussing what to do with Zhedong—which by this point had been renamed Yisheng Circuit (义胜)—when Dong made the offer to Qian, "If you can capture Yue Prefecture Yisheng's capital), I will yield Hang Prefecture to you." Qian agreed, responding, "You are right. If Yue were not captured, it will eventually be harmful to us." Qian thus launched the Hang Prefecture army and attacked Liu Hanhong, repeatedly defeating his army. By winter 886, Qian had captured Yue Prefecture, and Liu Hanhong was captured by his own subordinate Du Xiong (杜雄) the prefect of Tai Prefecture (台州, in modern Taizhou, Zhejiang). Dong executed Liu, and moved his headquarters to Yue, claiming the title of acting governor, while making Qian the prefect of Hang Prefecture. In 887, Emperor Xizong commissioned Dong as the governor of Zhedong and Qian as the prefect of Hang Prefecture. Later, Dong was made the military governor of Yisheng, which was then renamed to Weisheng (威胜).

In 887, a mutiny at Zhenhai's capital Run Prefecture (润州), led by Zhou's officer Xue Lang, forced Zhou to flee from Run Prefecture to Chang Prefecture (常州, in modern Changzhou, Jiangsu) to come under the protection of his officer Ding Congshi (丁从实) the prefect of Chang Prefecture, while Xue claimed the title of acting military governor. In response, Qian sent three of the "Eight Corps" commanders, Du Leng (杜棱), Ruan Jie (阮结), and Cheng Ji (成及) to attack Xue. After a victory over Xue's officer Li Junwang (李君暀), however, for reasons unclear, Du attacked and captured Chang Prefecture, and Ding fled to Huainan. Qian had Zhou escorted to Hang Prefecture, where he welcomed Zhou in a grand ceremony fitting the ceremony welcome by a subordinate of a military governor. Zhou would die at Hang Prefecture soon thereafter. (The New Book of Tang indicated that Qian killed Zhou, but Sima Guang, the lead author of the Zizhi Tongjian, found the account not credible and did not adopt it.) Meanwhile, Qian ordered Ruan to attack Run Prefecture, and Ruan captured it. Xue was taken captive, and Qian had his heart cut out of his body to be sacrificed to Zhou. Qian also sent his cousin Qian Qiu (钱銶) to attack Su Prefecture (苏州, in modern Suzhou, Jiangsu), and Qian Qiu captured it in spring 888, allowing Qian Liu to control most of Zhenhai territory, which he largely held onto from this point on—resisting even an imperial attempt to take control of Su, by a failed assassination attempt against the imperially-commissioned prefect Du Ruxiu (杜孺休), which caused Du Ruxiu to flee and allowed Qian to retain control. (Su Prefecture was briefly captured by Sun Ru, one of the contenders for control of Huainan after Gao was killed in a mutiny, in late 891, but Qian soon recaptured it, and entered into a temporary alliance with Sun's rival Yang Xingmi, supplying Yang's army with food.) Meanwhile, to placate Qian, then-reigning Emperor Zhaozong (Emperor Xizong's brother and successor) created Qian the Baron of Wuxing, and in 892 gave him the title of the defender of a new Wusheng Circuit (武胜) with its headquarters at Hang Prefecture, as well as governor (观察使, Guanchashi) of the Su-Hang region and created him the Marquess of Pengcheng. In 893, Emperor Zhaozong officially made him the military governor of Zhenhai—now with its headquarters at Hang, as Run and Chang prefectures fell into Yang's control in 892. In 894, Emperor Zhaozong bestowed on Qian the honorary chancellor title of Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi (同中书门下平章事). In spring 895, Emperor Zhaozong created Qian the Duke of Pengcheng.

Destruction of Dong Chang

Throughout the years, despite Qian Liu's expansion in power, Dong Chang still viewed him as a vassal. Meanwhile, Dong had become increasingly megalomanic, such that he had a temple built to himself fashioned similarly to the temple to Yu the Great (the mythical founder of the Xia Dynasty) and ordered his people to worship only at his temple, not at Yu's temple. He also petitioned Emperor Zhaozong, seeking to be created the greater title of Prince of Yue (from his then-title of Prince of Longxi). The imperial government did not agree immediately, and Dong became displeased. His followers, wanting to please him, encouraged him to take the next step and become the Emperor of Yue. In spring 895, he declared himself the emperor of a new state of "Luoping of the Great Yue" (大越罗平国), after killing every staff member who dared to speak against it.

Dong sent messengers to Qian to inform Qian that he had become emperor and that he was making Qian the commander of the forces of the "Two Zhes"—i.e., Zhenhai and Yisheng, which were on the opposite banks of the Qiantang River (Zhe River). Qian, disagreeing with Dong's decision to claim imperial title, wrote back: "Rather than closing up your gates to try to be the Son of Heaven, so that your entire clan and the people will all fall into fire, why not open your door to be Jiedushi, so that you will have honor and wealth the rest of your life? It is still not too late to repent." Dong refused Qian's suggestion, so Qian advanced to Yue Prefecture with 30,000 men, bowing down to him outside the Yue city gates, and stating to him that he brought soldiers to force Dong to repent. Dong, in fear, rewarded Qian money and delivered several sorcerers who advocated his taking the throne to Qian, claiming that he would soon submit a confession to Emperor Zhaozong. Only then did Qian withdraw and report the matter to Emperor Zhaozong.

Emperor Zhaozong, however, believed that Dong had great contributions over the years and that he must have just been afflicted with a mental illness. He thus pardoned Dong but ordered him to retire. However, the ambitious Qian, who was hopeful that the imperial government would declare a campaign against Dong so that he could be able to turn on Dong without appearing to be ungrateful, then submitted an accusation against Dong, pointing out that Dong committed the unpardonable crime of treason. Emperor Zhaozong thus issued an edict ordering Qian to attack Dong. Meanwhile, Yang Xingmi, who did not want to see Qian take over Weisheng, sent messengers to Qian to point out that Dong had already repented and should be pardoned, but Qian did not relent. (During the campaign, Qian's father Qian Kuan died; Emperor Zhaozong sent imperial messengers to mourn him, and also created Qian the greater title of Prince of Pengcheng.)

Yang thus tried to relieve Qian's pressure on Dong by sending his officer Tai Meng (台蒙) to attack Su Prefecture. Qian did not let up his attack, however, and Yang further sent Tian Jun the military governor of Ningguo Circuit (宁国, headquartered in modern Xuancheng, Anhui) and An Renyi (安仁义) the military prefect of Run Prefecture to attack Qian as well. The Huainan attack was bogged down for some time, however, allowing Qian to continue his attack of Weisheng, even after, in spring 896, because of Yang's request, Emperor Zhaozong pardoned Dong completely and restored his titles.

Qian's forces repeatedly defeated Dong's, and Dong exacerbated the matter by killing anyone who dared to give him accurate information about Qian's military strength. By summer 896, Qian's officer Gu Quanwu (顾全武) had reached Yue and put it under siege. Only then did Dong become fearful. He abandoned the title of emperor and referred to himself as military governor again, but the siege continued. Qian considered abandoning the siege after Huainan forces captured Su Prefecture about the same time, but Gu pointed out that capturing Yue should be the first priority, and Qian agreed.

Soon thereafter, the outer city of Yue fell, and Dong withdrew into the inner city to continue to defend it. Qian then sent Dong's old subordinate Luo Tuan (骆团) to Dong, stating that there were imperial orders for Dong to retire to Lin'an. Dong thus agreed to surrender. Gu delivered Dong toward Hang Prefecture, but executed him and his family on the way, as well as some 300 subordinates who supported his imperial claim. Qian delivered Dong's head to Chang'an and took over his territory. As Dong's people had been greatly drained by his heavy taxation, Qian opened up the storages, gave money to the soldiers and food to the people, to relieve their financial distress.

Rule over Zhenhai and Zhendong

After Qian Liu killed Dong Chang, Emperor Zhaozong bestowed on Qian the greater honorary chancellor title of Zhongshu Ling (中书令), but for some time did not official confirm his takeover of Weisheng. Instead, he commissioned the chancellor Wang Tuan as the military governor of Weisheng. Qian, however, got the soldiers and the people of both Zhenhai and Weisheng to submit petitions asking that Qian be given Weisheng as well. Emperor Zhaozong was forced to recall Wang and, after renaming Weisheng to Zhendong (镇东), made Qian the military governor of both Zhenhai and Zhendong.

Despite Dong's destruction, the warfare between Qian and Yang Xingmi did not cease, and over the next several years there were intermittent battles as both sides tried to capture cities that the other side controlled. Qian captured Hu (湖州, in modern Huzhou, Zhejiang from Yang's vassal Li Yanhui (李彦徽) in 897 and recaptured Su from Huainan's officer Qin Pei (秦裴) in 898, while Tian Jun's subordinate Kang Ru (康儒) captured Wu Prefecture (婺州, in modern Jinhua, Zhejiang) from Qian's nominal vassal Wang Tan (王檀) in 899. In 901, Emperor Zhaozong bestowed the honorary chancellor title of Shizhong (侍中) on Qian. Also that year, Qian's mother Lady Shuiqiu died.

In fall 901, a rumor reached Yang that Qian had been assassinated. Yang, believing the rumor, sent his officer Li Shenfu to attack Hang Prefecture, to try to seize it in a power vacuum. Qian sent Gu Quanwu to resist the attack. Gu viewed Li Shenfu lightly, and Li Shenfu and his deputy Lü Shizao (吕师造) were able to ambush, defeat, and capture him. Li Shenfu put Lin'an under siege, but soon realized that the rumor of Qian's death was a false one. He could not capture Lin'an quickly and was apprehensive that Qian might counterattack, and therefore gained goodwill by protecting Qian's family tombs and allowing Gu, whom Qian valued greatly, to write home. He also pretended that a major Huainan reinforcement was on the way. Qian thus sought peace and offered a monetary reward. Li Shenfu, after accepting it, withdrew. In 902, the sides made peace, and Gu was returned to Qian in return for Qin. Later that year, Emperor Zhaozong promoted Qian's princely title from Prince of Pengcheng to Prince of Yue.

In fall 902, Qian faced the most serious challenge to his rule since he took over the two circuits. He was visiting his ancestral neighborhood in Lin'an, which he had promoted to the status of Yijin Base (衣锦军). Meanwhile, he ordered his officer Xu Wan, and Xu's soldiers to dredge a canal, a task that Xu and his soldiers, who had previously served under Sun Ru and who fled to Qian after Yang defeated Sun, complained about; despite the advice by Cheng Ji, who was Qian's deputy military governor by this point, to rescind the dredging order, Qian did not relent. While Qian was at Yijin, Xu and Xu Zaisi (许再思) started a mutiny and tried to capture Hang Prefecture, which was defended by Qian's son Qian Chuanying (钱传瑛) and Ma Chuo. They captured the outer city, but Qian Chuanying and Ma held out against the attack in the inner city. Qian Liu, hearing of the mutiny, had to rush back to Hang Prefecture and only got into the inter city through the siege with difficulty. With the inner city continued to be under siege, there were some suggestions that Qian flee to Zhendong's capital Yue Prefecture, but Qian remained at Hang after advice from Du Leng's son Du Jianhui (杜建徽).

Still, Qian was concerned that Xu Wan and Xu Zaisi would instead seize Yue, and he was ready to send Gu to Yue to defend it. Gu, however, pointed out that Xu Wan and Xu Zaisi, after being unable to capture Hang quickly, would surely seek aid from Tian, and that he should try to ensure that Yang would not agree with such an action. At Gu's advice, Qian had his son Qian Chuanliao (钱传璙) accompany Gu on a mission to Huainan (to offer Qian Chuanliao as a hostage to Yang), seeking for Yang to stop a potential attack from Tian.

After Gu and Qian Chuanliao departed for Huainan's capital Guangling (广陵), as Gu expected, Xu Wan and Xu Zaisi sought aid from Tian. Tian arrived with an army to aid the siege, while offering Qian safe passage to Yue if he was willing to yield Hang. Qian refused. Tian thus put Hang under siege. Meanwhile, Gu and Qian Chuanliao had arrived at Guangling and persuaded Yang that if Tian seized Hang, his power would increase such that he would no longer be subordinate to Yang and would in fact pose a major danger. Yang, after keeping Qian Chuanliao at Guangling and marrying a daughter to him, thus agreed to recall Tian. When Tian initially failed to withdraw, Yang sent the message, "If you do not return, I will send someone else to take over Xuan Prefecture Ningguo's capital)." Tian thus agreed to withdraw, after extracting money tributes and Qian Liu's son Qian Chuanguan as a hostage, to whom he gave a daughter in marriage. Xu Wan and Xu Zaisi followed Tian back to Ningguo.

In 903, Tian, resentful of how Yang forced him to abandon the Zhenhai campaign, rebelled against Yang, along with An Renyi. Yang sent Li Shenfu to engage Tian, and Li Shenfu, after initial victories, captured Xu Wan. Yang had Xu Wan delivered to Qian, and Qian cut out Xu Wan's heart and sacrificed it to Gao Wei (高渭), an officer who was killed in the Xu Wan/Xu Zaisi mutiny. With Tian and An each having substantial armies, Yang sought aid from Qian, and Qian sent his officer Fang Yongzhen (方永珍) to help attack An's base Run Prefecture, his cousin Qian Yi (钱镒) to help attack Xuan Prefecture, and Yang Xi (杨习) to attack Mu Prefecture (睦州, in modern Hangzhou), whose prefect Chen Xun (陈询) had rebelled against Qian. Around the new year 904, Tian was killed by Tai Meng in battle, and Yang regained control of Ningguo. In the aftermaths, Qian Chuanguan, whom Tian had wanted to kill but who was protected by Tian's mother Lady Yin and Tian's brother-in-law Guo Shicong (郭师从), returned to Hang safely. Yang also returned Qian Chuanliao and his wife (Yang's daughter) to Hang Prefecture. Meanwhile, Qian had sent requests to the imperial government, seeking to be created the Prince of Wuyue—to signify his ambition toward not only the historical Yue region (modern Zhejiang) but also the historical Wu region (modern Jiangsu). The imperial government refused. Zhu Quanzhong the military governor of Xuanwu Circuit (宣武, headquartered in modern Kaifeng, Henan), who had by this point seized control of Emperor Zhaozong and forced him to move the capital to Luoyang, however, was an ally of Qian's, and so at Zhu's request, Qian was created the Prince of Wu (a title that Yang also carried).

Mu Prefecture, however, remained out of Qian's control, and in late 904, after Qian sent Ye Rang (叶让) to try to assassinate Chen Zhang (陈璋) the prefect of Qu Prefecture (衢州, in modern Quzhou, Zhejiang), whom Qian had resented for receiving Xu Wan's associate Zhang Hong (张洪), Chen Zhang also submitted to Yang. Meanwhile, Yang sent Tao Ya (陶雅) to aid Chen Xun. When Qian Yi, Gu, and Wang Qiu (王球) engaged Tao, Tao defeated them, capturing Qian Yi and Wang. Tao then further advanced to attack Wu Prefecture, and Qian sent his brother Qian Biao and Fang to try to relieve Wu Prefecture. After Yang's death in 905 and succession by his son Yang Wo, however, because Yang Wo had a running dispute with Wang Maozhang the governor of Xuan Prefecture, Wang Maozhang abandoned Xuan and fled to Qian. Apprehensive that Wang Maozhang would cut off his escape path, Tao withdrew, allowing Qian to retake Mu and Qu Prefectures.

In 907, Qian Liu sent Qian Chuanliao and Qian Chuanguan to attack Wen (温州, in modern Wenzhou, Zhejiang) and Chu (处州, in modern Lishui, Zhejiang) Prefectures, which were part of Zhendong Circuit but had been held independently by the brothers Lu Ji (卢佶) and Lu Yue (卢约) respectively. They defeated and killed Lu Ji quickly, and Lu Yue subsequently surrendered, allowing Qian Liu to take control of Wen and Chu Prefectures.

As Later Liang vassal

In spring 907, Zhu Quanzhong, who had had Emperor Zhaozong killed in 904 and replaced with Emperor Zhaozong's son Emperor Ai, had Emperor Ai yield the throne to him, ending Tang and establishing Later Liang as its Emperor Taizu. Most local governors in the Tang empire recognized the new Later Liang emperor as their emperor, with the exceptions of Li Keyong the military governor of Hedong Circuit (河东, headquartered in modern Taiyuan, Shanxi), who carried the title of Prince of Jin; Li Maozhen the military governor of Fengxiang Circuit (凤翔, headquartered in modern Baoji, Shaanxi), who carried the title of Prince of Qi; Yang Wo, who carried the title of Prince of Hongnong (each of whom claimed continued loyalty to the defunct Tang Dynasty but are generally viewed as independent states from this point on); and Wang Jian the military governor of Xichuan Circuit (西川, headquartered in modern Chengdu, Sichuan), who carried the title of Prince of Shu (and who soon thereafter declared his own state of Former Shu as its emperor). Qian Liu recognized the new Later Liang emperor as well, despite urgings by his staff member Luo Yin to join the other military governors in opposing Later Liang due to its usurpation of the Tang throne. Subsequently, Emperor Taizu created Qian the Prince of Wuyue and also made him the titular military governor of Huainan as well as Zhenhai and Zhendong, and this is traditionally viewed as the founding of the Wuyue state. However, despite Qian's status as a vassal to Later Liang, instead of using Emperor Taizu's Kaiping era name, he adopted an era name of his own (Tianbao), signifying a claim on his own sovereignty.

Late in 907, Hongnong forces attacked Xin Prefecture (信州, in modern Shangrao, Jiangxi), then-held by the independent warlord Wei Quanfeng's brother Wei Zaichang (危仔倡). Wei Zaichang sought aid from Wuyue, and Wuyue forces attacked Hongnong's Ganlu Base (甘露镇, near Run Prefecture) in spring 908 to try to relieve the pressure on Xin. Later in the year, he further sent Wang Maozhang (whose name was then changed to Wang Jingren to observe naming taboo for Emperor Taizu's father Zhu Cheng (朱诚)) to Later Liang to submit a plan to attack Hongnong. (Wang would thereafter remain at Later Liang and serve as a Later Liang general.) In response, Hongnong (which by this point was ruled by Yang Wo's brother and successor Yang Longyan after Yang Wo was assassinated in 908) sent Zhou Ben and Lü Shizao to put Su Prefecture under siege; by 909, however, Wuyue forces had defeated Hongnong forces sieging Su, and Hongnong forces retreated. Meanwhile, at Qian's request, the Later Liang general Kou Yanqing (寇彦卿) was also attacking Hongnong, but after Kou was unable to make much headway, Kou withdrew.

Later in 909, Wei Quanfeng gathered the forces in his domain (Fu (抚州, in modern Fuzhou, Jiangxi), Xin, Yuan (袁州, in modern Yichun, Jiangxi), and Ji (吉州, in modern Ji'an, Jiangxi) Prefectures) and attacked Hongnong's Zhennan Circuit (镇南, headquartered in modern Nanchang, Jiangxi), aided by Ma Yin the Prince of Chu. Hongnong sent Zhou to engage Wei, and Zhou defeated and captured him. Wei Zaichang initially agreed to submit to Hongnong, but when Hongnong sent the officer Zhang Jingsi (张景思) to replace Wei Zaichang, Wei Zaichang, in fear, fled to Wuyue. Qian gave Wei Zaichang the title of deputy military governor of Huainan and changed his surname from Wei to Yuan (元) (as Qian disliked "Wei," which meant "danger").

In winter 909, Qian, having heard that Gao Li (高澧) the prefect of Hu Prefecture was violent and cruel to his people, wanted to executed Gao. Gao, hearing this, rebelled and offered to submit to Wu (i.e., Hongnong, as Yang Longyan by now was using the title of Prince of Wu that his father Yang Xingmi held). Qian sent Qian Biao to attack him, while Wu sent Li Jian (李简) to try to aid him. Gao's officers Sheng Shiyou (盛师友) and Shen Xingsi (沈行思) turned against him, and Gao fled to Wu, allowing Wuyue to retain Hu, which Qian Liu made Qian Biao the prefect of after personally touring it to try to calm the locale. Also around this time, Qian built a major seawall at the mouth of the Qiantang River and enlarged the Hang Prefecture city perimeter. It was said that after this Hang Prefecture became the richest prefecture in the southeast China.

In 912, Emperor Taizu was assassinated by his son Zhu Yougui the Prince of Ying, who took the throne. Zhu Yougui bestowed on Qian the special title of Shangfu (尚父, "imperial father"), a title that Qian appeared to keep even after Zhu Yougui was in turn killed in a counter-mutiny in 913 and succeeded by his brother Zhu Youzhen the Prince of Jun. Also in 913, Wu made two attempts to attack and capture Yijin, commanded by Li Tao (李涛) in one operation and Hua Qian (花虔) and Wo Xin (涡信) in the other. Qian Liu sent Qian Chuanguan and Qian Chuanliao to resist, and both times defeated Wu forces, capturing Li Tao, Hua, and Wo. He then sent Qian Chuanguan, Qian Chuanliao, and Qian Chuanying to attack Wu's Chang Prefecture. They, however, were defeated by Wu's regent Xu Wen.

In 916, Qian Liu sent the official Pi Guangye to submit tributes to Zhu Youzhen, taking the lengthy route (as was required by geopolitical situations) through the domain of Wang Shenzhi the Prince of Min, the independent warlord Tan Quanbo (谭全播, whose headquarters was at Qian Prefecture (虔州, in modern Ganzhou, Jiangxi), and Chu. Zhu Youzhen was greatly touched by this gesture and conferred on Qian the title of Generalissimo of All Circuits (诸道兵马元帅, Zhudao Bingma Yuanshuai), and then in 917 modified the title to Generalissimo of All Forces in the Realm (天下兵马元帅, Tianxia Bingma Yuanshuai), which would from this point on become a title traditionally held by Wuyue kings. Also in 916, Qian Liu's son Qian Chuanxiang (钱传珦) entered into a marriage with a daughter of Wang Shenzhi, and thereafter Wuyue and Min had friendly relations.

In 918, Wu attacked Tan's domain, and Tan sought aid from Wuyue, Min, and Chu. Qian sent his son Qian Chuanqiu (钱传球) to put Xin Prefecture under siege to try to relieve the pressure on Tan. However, Zhou Ben, who was then the prefect of Xin, pretended that he had more forces than he actually had, and Qian Chuanqiu withdrew. Subsequently, the Wu general Liu Xin (刘信) defeated and captured Tan and incorporated his domain into Wu territory. (This cut off the route that Qian used for paying tributes to Later Liang, and from this point on he was forced to use the sea route to do so.)

In 919, Qian launched a major attack on Wu, with Qian Chuanguan in command. The operation was initially highly successful, with Qian Chuanguan crushing the Wu fleet under the command of Peng Yanzhang (彭彦章) on the Yangtze River at Langshan (狼山, in modern Nantong, Jiangsu). In light of the victory, Qian Chuanguan attacked Chang Prefecture, but was defeated by Xu Wen at Wuxi (无锡, in modern Wuxi, Jiangsu), killing the Wuyue generals He Feng (何逢) and Wu Jian (吴建) and forcing Qian Chuanguan to flee. Xu Wen's assistant and adoptive son Xu Zhigao wanted to counterattack and seize Su Prefecture, but Xu Wen, interested in using this victory to force Wuyue into a peace arrangement, declined. Instead, he returned the Wuyue captives that he took. Qian Liu, in return, sought peace with Wu, ending the long-term intermittent warfare between Wu and Wuyue. However, even though Yang Longyan and Xu Wen both repeatedly wrote Qian to urge him to declare independence from Later Liang, Qian refused. However, he also took no action when Zhu Youzhen ordered him to attack Liu Yan, who controlled the modern Guangdong and Guangxi region and who had recently declared himself the emperor of a new state of Southern Han. Subsequently, in 920, Wu further returned Qian Yi, who had been captured in 904 and continuously held, to Wuyue, while Wuyue returned Li Tao to Wu. Also in 920, Qian Liu and Ma Yin entered into a marriage arrangement where Qian's son Qian Chuansu (钱传璛) married a daughter of Ma's, to cement a relationship between Wuyue and Chu.

In 923, Zhu Youzhen sent his official Cui Xie to create Qian Liu the greater title of King of Wuyue, signifying the Later Liang emperor's recognition of Qian as a sovereign of his own state albeit as a Later Liang vassal. Qian thereafter began to take on styles that were similar to, but slightly lower status to, the Later Liang emperor, including referring to his residence as a palace, referring to his place of administration as a court, and referring to his orders as edicts. Thereafter, also, by the emperor's permission, in his submissions to Later Liang he no longer referred to himself as a military governor but as the King of Wuyue. He also established a government structure that was akin to the imperial government, with lesser titles. The Later Liang emperor's edicts also referred to him only as the King of Wuyue and no longer by his name, to show deference to him. Qian thereafter made Qian Chuanguan the acting military governor of Zhenhai and Zhendong.

As Later Tang vassal

Later in 923, Li Keyong's son and successor Li Cunxu the Prince of Jin declared himself the emperor of a new Later Tang (as Emperor Zhuangzong), and soon thereafter made a surprise attack against the Later Liang capital Daliang. Zhu Youzhen, caught by surprise, committed suicide, ending Later Liang. Later Liang territory was taken by Later Tang. Qian Liu did not immediately react to Later Liang's destruction, but in late 924 offered tribute to Emperor Zhuangzong. In response, Emperor Zhuangzong conferred on him all of the titles that Later Liang had previously conferred on him. Qian submitted a large tribute, and gave many gifts to powerful Later Tang politicians. He requested that Emperor Zhuangzong grant him a golden seal, a certificate of his creation written on jade, the privilege of not being referred to by name, and the continued use of the title of king. Despite some Later Tang officials' reservations—pointing out that jade certificates were traditionally reserved for emperors and that, unless non-Chinese vassals were involved, vassals were not supposed to carry kingly titles—Emperor Zhuangzong granted Qian's requests. Subsequently, when Qian sent an emissary, Shen Tao (沈瑫), to Wu to inform Wu what had occurred, Wu authorities (probably referring to Xu Wen) refused Shen entry to Wu territory, on the basis that it believed that Wuyue, by the virtue of its name, was improperly showing ambition against Wu. The two states' relations interrupted for some time thereafter.

In 926, there was a time when Qian was, due to illness, resting at Yijin, leaving Qian Chuanguan in charge of the state affairs at the capital Qiantang (i.e., Hang Prefecture). Xu sent emissaries, ostensibly to wish Qian Liu a speedy recovery. Qian, judging correctly that Xu was trying to figure out how ill he was and preparing a potential attack, met with the emissaries despite his illness. Xu, believing that Qian was not that ill, cancelled the planned attack. Qian soon recovered and returned to Qiantang.

In 928, Qian wanted to officially make Qian Chuanguan his heir, but as Qian Chuanguan was not his oldest son, he decided to gather his sons and state, "State your contributions. I will make the one who has the most contributions my heir." In response, Qian Chuanguan's older brothers Qian Chuanyi (钱传懿), Qian Chuanliao, and Qian Chuanjing (钱传璟) all endorsed Qian Chuanguan. Qian thereafter submitted a petition to Emperor Zhuangzong's adoptive brother and successor Emperor Mingzong that the military governorships of Zhenhai and Zhendong be transferred to Qian Chuanguan. Emperor Mingzong approved the request.

By 929, Qian had offended Emperor Mingzong's army chief of staff (Shumishi) An Chonghui by being arrogant in his style in his letters to An. Further, after Emperor Mingzong's emissaries to Wuyue, Wu Zhaoyu (乌昭遇) and Han Mei (韩玫) returned to Later Tang on a mission, Han accused Wu Zhaoyu of bowing to Qian and revealing state secrets to Qian. An thus persuaded Emperor Mingzong to order Wu Zhaoyu to commit suicide. Thereafter, Emperor Mingzong ordered Qian to retire with the title of Taishi (太师) and stripped him of all other titles, and further ordered that the Later Tang circuits arrest all Wuyue emissaries. Qian had his sons submit petitions to plead for him, but An ignored them. In 930, Qian, as Pei Yu (裴羽), the emissary that Emperor Mingzong had sent to create Wang Shenzhi's son and successor Wang Yanjun the Prince of Min was returning to Later Tang, wrote an apologetic petition and gave it to Pei to submit to Emperor Mingzong; in response, Emperor Mingzong released the Wuyue emissaries, but did not restore Qian's titles. In 931, after Emperor Mingzong removed An from his position as army chief of staff, he restored all of Qian's titles and blamed the situation on An.

In 932, Qian grew seriously ill. Despite his prior designation of Qian Chuanguan as heir, he, in order to test the subordinates' loyalty, stated, "I will surely not recover from this illness. My sons are foolish and weak. Who can succeed me as generalissimo?" The subordinates all responded, "The chancellor for the two circuits Qian Chuanguan, who had been given an honorary chancellor title) is both kind and filially pious, and also had accomplishments. Who would dare not to support him?" Qian Liu thus gave all of the keys to the storages to Qian Chuanguan, stating, "The generals and the administrators all support you. You should govern benevolently." He also stated, "My descendants should serve Zhongguo the governing central state of China) faithfully, regardless of what the surname of the ruling dynasty is." He died thereafter. Qian Chuanguan (who then changed his name to Qian Yuanguan) succeeded him (as King Wenmu). Emperor Mingzong gave Qian Liu the posthumous name of Wusu (武肃, "martial and solmen").

Personality and impact of reign

Under Qian Liu's reign, Wuyue prospered economically and freely developed its own regional culture that continues to this day. He developed the coastal kingdom's agriculture, built seawalls, expanded Hangzhou, dredged rivers and lakes, and encouraged sea transport and trade. He built an embankment against the famous "bore" in the Qiantang River near Hangzhou, which was his capital; and on one occasion, when the works were threatened, he is said to have driven back the waters by the discharge of a flight of arrows. Qian Liu is said to have used on his campaigns a cylindrical pillow, to prevent him from sleeping too heavily. Despite these contributions, however, the Song Dynasty historian Ouyang Xiu (the lead author of the New History of the Five Dynasties) blamed him for luxurious living and for imposing heavy taxation and punishments on his people. Qian Liu is depicted in the Wu Shuang Pu (无双谱, Table of Peerless Heroes) by Jin Guliang.

Personal information

• Father

　• Qian Kuan (835-895), posthumously honored King Yingxian

• Mother

　• Lady Shuiqiu (died 901), posthumously honored Lady Dowager Taixuan of Zhao

• Wife

　• Lady Wu (858-919), Lady Zhuangmu of Wuyue, mother of Qian Chuanying

• Major Concubines

　• Lady Chen, posthumously created the Lady Dowager Zhaoyi of Jin, mother of Qian Yuanguan

　• Lady Hu, Lady Qing'an, mother of Qian Yuanji

　• Lady Jin, mother of Qian Yuanyi

　• Lady Tong, Lady Ji'nan, mother of Qian Chuanqu

　• Lady Zheng

• Children (38 sons, some of whom were not recorded in history)

　• Qian Yuanji (钱元玑) (died 933), né Qian Chuanji (钱传玑), the Duke of Ning

　• Qian Chuanying (钱传瑛) (died 913), né Qian Chuankai (钱传锴), posthumously created the Duke of Yun

　• Qian Yuanyi (钱元懿) (886-951), né Qian Chuanchou (钱传俦), later Qian Chuanyi (钱传懿), Prince Xuanhui of Jinhua

　• Qian Yuanliao (钱元璙) (887-942), né Qian Chuanliao (钱传璙), posthumously created Prince Xuanyi of Guangling

　• Qian Yuanguan (钱元瓘) (887-941), né Qian Chuanguan (钱传瓘), later king

　• Qian Chuanqu (钱传(王瞿)) (888-907), Marquess of Yuyao

　• Qian Yuanqiu (钱元球), né Qian Chuanqiu (钱传球), Marquess of Dapeng

　• Qian Yuanxu (钱元㺷), né Qian Chuanxu (钱传㺷), Marquess of Fu'nan (executed by Qian Yuanguan 937)

　• Qian Yuanxiang (钱元珦), né Qian Chuanxiang (钱传珦), Marquess of Huaiyin (executed by Qian Yuanguan 937)

　• Qian Chuansu (钱传璛) (died 921?), Marquess of Xin'an

　• Qian Chuanjing (钱传璟), Duke of Xia

　• Qian Yuanlin (钱元琳)

　• Qian Yuangui (钱元璝) (899-965), posthumously created the Prince of Ningming

　• Qian Yuanbi (钱元弼)

　• Qian Chuansui (钱传璲), the Marquess of Yongjia

　• Qian Chuanji (钱传㻑), the Marquess of Jinhua

　• Qian Chuanyan (钱传琰), the Marquess of Qiantang

　• Qian Chuanzhen (钱传珎)

　• Qian Yuanyou (钱元佑)

　• Qian Yuanlian (钱元琏)

　• Qian Yuankang (钱元𪻑)

　• Qian Yuanzhuo (钱元琢)

　• Qian Yuanpu (钱元璞)

　• Qian Yuandang (钱元璫)

　• Qian Yuanxun (钱元珣)

　• Qian Yuanyuan (钱元(王𣶒))

　• Qian Yuanchen (钱元琛)

　• Qian Yuanjin (钱元瑾)

　• Qian Yuanyu (钱元裕)

　• Qian Yuanfan (钱元璠)

　• Qian Yuanxu (钱元勖)

　• Qian Yuanxi (钱元禧)

　• Qian Yuanqi (钱元祁)?

　• Qian Yuangui (钱元圭)?

Descendants

Millions of people today in Jiangsu, Shanghai, and Zhejiang bear the surname Qian, many of whom are direct descendants of Qian Liu. Many of his 38+ sons were posted to different parts of his kingdom, greatly increasing the density of the Qian surname within the former territory of Wuyue. Notable descendants include:

• Qian Xuesen, (1911 – 2009), was a prominent Chinese aerodynamicist, cyberneticist and politician who contributed to rocket science and established engineering cybernetics

• Qian Yuanguan, (887 – 941) the second king of the state of Wuyue, during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period of China

• Hsue-Chu Tsien, (1914–1997) aeronautic and mechanical engineer who played important roles in aircraft building in both China and afterward the United States

• Roger Y. Tsien, (1952 – 2016) Chinese-American biochemist. He was a professor of chemistry and biochemistry at the University of California, San Diego7 and was awarded the 2008 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his discovery and development of the green fluorescent protein

• Richard W. Tsien, (1945–) Chinese-born American neurobiologist and engineer. He is the Druckenmiller Professor of Neuroscience, Chair of the Department of Physiology and Neuroscience, and Director of the NYU Neuroscience Institute at New York University Medical Center

• Robert Tjian, Asian-American biochemist best known for his work on eukaryotic transcription, currently Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of California, Berkeley

• Ch'ien Mu, (1895 – 1990) was a Chinese historian, educator, philosopher and Confucian

• Qian Liren (1924-) a Chinese politician, diplomat, and translator who had a distinguished career in foreign affairs

In fiction

The 1620 short story collection Illustrious Words to Instruct the World by Feng Menglong contained a story on Qian Liu titled "Qian Poliu Begins His Career in Lin'an" (临安里钱婆留发迹).

A 28-episode Chinese television series King Qian in Wuyue was produced in 2006 starring Wang Yanan as Qian Liu.