Wuyue

Wuyue (simplified Chinese: 吴越; traditional Chinese: 吳越; pinyin: Wúyuè; Shanghainese: Wu Chinese pronunciation: [ɦuɦyɪʔ]), 907–978, was an independent coastal kingdom founded during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period (907–960) of Chinese history. It was ruled by the Qian family, whose family name remains widespread in the kingdom's former territory.

Wuyue 吳越
907–978
China during the early Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. A prefix of "F." indicates a city suffixed with "-fu", a prefix of "Z." indicates a city suffixed with "-zhou".
Status	Tributary state of Later Liang, Later Tang, Later Jin, Liao, Later Han, Later Zhou and Song
Capital	Qiantang (Main court; Capital) Yuezhou (Eastern court)
Common languages	Wu Chinese
Government	Monarchy
King
• 907–932	Qian Liu
• 932–941	Qian Yuanguan
• 941–947	Qian Hongzuo
• 947	Qian Hongzong
• 947–978	Qian Chu (Qian Hongchu)
Historical era	Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period
• Zhenhai Military Governorate	886
• Fall of the Tang Dynasty	907
• Submitted to Song	978
• Extinguishment	988
Currency	Chinese cash, Chinese coin
Preceded by Succeeded by Tang Dynasty Song Dynasty
Today part of	China

Founding

Temple to the Qian King in Hangzhou, one of many shrines to the kings of Wuyue which still exist in its former territory.

Qian Liu, the founder of Wuyue.

Beginning in 887, the Qian family provided military leaders to the Tang Dynasty. Qian Liu was named Prince of Yue in 902, with the title of Prince of Wu added two years later. In 907, when the Tang Dynasty fell and was replaced in the north by the Later Liang, military leaders in the south formed their own kingdoms. Qian Liu used his position to proclaim himself the King of Wuyue. This signaled the beginning of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period which would last until the founding of the Song Dynasty in 960.

Origin of name

The name Wuyue comes from the combination of Wu Kingdom and Yue Kingdom, two ancient kingdoms during the Spring and Autumn period from 770 to 476 BC.

Territorial extent

With its capital in Hangzhou, also called "Xifu", the kingdom included present-day Zhejiang, Shanghai, along with the southern portion of Jiangsu Province. It also later absorbed some of the northern part of Fujian when the Min Kingdom fell in 945. The territorial extent of Wuyue roughly corresponded to the territories of the ancient Yue, but not the ancient Wu—which led to charges by the neighboring Wu (also known as Southern Wu) that Wuyue had designs on its territory, and the name was a source of tension for years between the two states.

In the early decades of its existence, Wuyue bordered the Min Kingdom on its south and the Southern Tang Kingdom on its west and north. With the rebellion of Yin from the Min from 943 to 945, Wuyue briefly had a third border. However, before long, Wuyue was completely encircled (except for the East China Sea) as both Yin and Min were absorbed by the Southern Tang.

The population was approximately 550,700 households, with many people living in commercial centers and major seaports.[1]

Administrative divisions

West Lake in Hangzhou

Wuyue was not a large kingdom compared to many of its neighbors. Although initially 12 prefectures (州), it later consisted of 13 prefectures and 86 counties or sub-prefectures (縣). Fuzhou was incorporated into Wuyue as its 13th prefecture, after the Min court declared allegiance to it as they were besieged by Southern Tang.

Prefecture	州	Counties	縣
Hangzhou (Xifu) (main capital or western capital)	杭州
		Qiantang	錢塘
		Qianjiang	錢江
		Yanguan	鹽官
		Yuhang	餘杭
		Fuchun	富春
		Tonglu	桐廬
		Yuqian	於潛
		Xindeng	新登
		Hengshan	橫山
		Wukang	武康
Yuezhou (eastern capital; modern day Shaoxing)	越州
		Kuaiji	會稽
		Shanyin	山陰
		Zhuji	諸暨
		Yuyao	餘姚
		Xiaoshan	蕭山
		Shangyu	上虞
		Xinchang	新昌
		Zhan	瞻縣
Huzhou	湖州
		Wucheng	烏程
		Deqing	德清
		Anji	安吉
		Changxing	長興
Wenzhou	溫州
		Yongjia	永嘉
		Rui'an	瑞安
		Pingyang	平陽
		Yueqing	樂清
Taizhou	台州
		Linhai	臨海
		Huangyan	黃岩
		Taixing	台興
		Yong'an	永安
		Ninghai	寧海
Mingzhou (modern day Ningbo and Zhoushan)	明州
		Yin County	鄞縣
		Fenghua	奉化
		Cixi	慈溪
		Xiangshan	象山
		Wanghai	望海
		Wengshan	翁山
Chuzhou (roughly modern day Lishui city)	處州
		Lishui	麗水
		Longquan	龍泉
		Suichang	遂昌
		Jinyun	縉雲
		Qingtian	青田
		Bailong	白龍
Quzhou	衢州
		Xi'an (not the capital)	西安
		Jiangshan	江山
		Longyou	龍游
		Changshan	常山
Wuzhou (roughly modern day Jinhua city)	婺州
		Jinhua	金華
		Dongyang	東陽
		Yiwu	義烏
		Lanxi	蘭溪
		Yongkang	永康
		Wuyi	武義
		Pujiang	浦江
Muzhou (roughly modern northwestern Zhejiang province)	睦州
		Jiande	建德
		Shouchang	壽昌
		Sui'an	遂安
		Fenshui	分水
		Qingxi	青溪
Xiuzhou (roughly modern Shanghai and its surrounding environs, along with Jiaxing prefecture in Zhejiang province)	秀州
		Jiaxing	嘉興
		Haiyan	海鹽
		Huating	華亭
		Chongde	崇德
Suzhou	蘇州
		Wu County	吳縣
		Jinzhou	晉洲
		Kunshan	崑山
		Changshu	常熟
		Wujiang	吳江
Fuzhou (acquired after the fall of Min)	福州
		Min County	閩縣
		Houguan	侯官
		Changle	長樂
		Lianjiang	連江
		Changxi	長溪
		Fuqing	福清
		Gutian	古田
		Yongtai	永泰
		Minqing	閩清
		Yongzhen	永貞
		Ningde	寧德
Anguo Yijin Military Prefecture (once called Yijin military prefecture)	安國衣錦軍 (衣錦軍)	Lin'an	臨安

Former Administrative Divisions

• Changzhou (常州) from 886–891 CE, ceded to Yang Xingmi
• Runzhou (潤州) from 886–891 CE, ceded to Yang Xingmi

Reign of Qian Liu

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. On his death-bed he urged a benign administration of state affairs and his words were strictly followed by four succeeding kings.

Foreign diplomacy

In 935, Wuyue established official diplomatic relations with Japan. The kingdom also took advantage of its maritime location to maintain diplomatic contacts with north China, the Khitans, Bohai, and the Korean states of Later Baekje, Goryeo, and Silla. Buddhism played a large role in the diplomatic relations with Japan and Goryeo. Japanese and Korean monks traveled to Wuyue, while monks from Wuyue went to Japan and Korea as well. The rulers of Wuyue also tried to find sutras that had been lost during the turbulent final years of the Tang. In 947, Qian Zuo sent gifts to Japan and offering to buy any sutras, however none were available. In 961, Qian Chu sent fifty precious objects and a letter to Goryeo inquiring about the missing sutras, and Gwangjong sent the monk Jegwan (Chinese: 諦觀) with a complete set of Tiantai sutras.[2]

Fall of the kingdom

In 978, in the face of certain annihilation from northern imperial Chinese troops, the last king of Wuyue, Qian Chu, pledged allegiance to the Song Dynasty, saving his people from war and economic destruction. While Qian Chu nominally remained king, Wuyue was absorbed into the Song Dynasty, effectively ending the kingdom. The last king died in 988.

Legacy

Cultural legacy

A section of the West Lake with the pavilion on the left that is said to mark the spot of an archery range in the Wuyue period.

The Wuyue Kingdom cemented the cultural and economic dominance of the Wuyue region in China for centuries to come, as well as creating a lasting regional cultural tradition distinctive from the rest of China. The leaders of the kingdom were noted patrons of Buddhism, and architecture, temple decoration, and religious sculptures related to Buddhism. The cultural distinctiveness that began developing over this period persists to this day as the Wuyue region speaks a dialect called Wu (the most famous variant of which is Shanghainese), has distinctive cuisine and other cultural traits. The Baochu Pagoda, constructed during the reign of Qian Chu, was one of many temples and pagodas built under the patronage of the Wuyue kings.

Infrastructure

The physical legacy of the Wuyue Kingdom was the creation of the system of canals and dikes which allowed the region to become the most agriculturally rich region of China for many centuries. As a result, shrines to Qian Liu sprang up all across the region, and many can still be found today.

Personal legacy

Qian Liu was often known as the "Dragon King" or the "Sea Dragon King" because of his extensive hydro-engineering schemes which "tamed" the seas. The kings of Wuyue continue to enjoy positive treatment in orthodox history. They were popularly revered because of the hydro-engineering works, ensuring the economic prosperity of the region, and for finally surrendering to the Song Dynasty, which ensured both a unified Chinese nation and that the region would not be ravaged by war.

During the early Song Dynasty, the Qian royal family were treated as second only to the ruling Zhao imperial family, as reflected in the Hundred Family Surnames. Subsequently, many shrines were erected across the Wuyue region where the kings of Wuyue were memorialised, and sometimes, worshipped as dictating weather and agriculture. Many of these shrines, known as "Shrine of the Qian King" or "Temple to the Qian King", remain today, the most popularly visited example being that near West Lake in Hangzhou.

Qian Liu reputedly had more than a hundred sons born to many different wives and concubines. His progeny were posted to various parts of the kingdom. The Qian family remains very widely spread throughout the region. Several branches are considered "prominent families" (望族) in their local areas.[3]

Rulers

Sovereigns in Kingdom of Wuyue 907–978

Temple Names			Posthumous Names			Personal Names			Period of Reigns	Era Names and respective range of years
Chinese	Pinyin	Shanghainese	Chinese	Pinyin	Shanghainese	Chinese	Pinyin	Shanghainese
太祖	Tài Zǔ	Tha Tsu	武肅王	Wǔ Sù Wáng	Vu Soh Waon	錢鏐	Qián Liú	Zi Leu	907–932	Tianyou (天祐): 907 Tianbao (天寶): 908–912 Fengli (鳳歷): 913 Qianhua (乾化): 913–915 Zhenming (貞明): 915–921 Longde (龍德): 921–923 Baoda (寶大): 924–925 Baozheng (寶正): 926–931
世宗	Shì Zōng	Sy Tson	文穆王	Wén Mù Wáng	Ven Moh Waon	錢元瓘 (錢傳瓘)	Qián Yuánguàn (Qián Chuánguàn)	Zi Nyoe Cioe (Zi Zoe Cioe)	932–941	Changxing (長興): 932–933 Yingshun (應順): 934 Qingtai (清泰): 934–936 Tianfu (天福): 936–941
成宗	Chéng Zōng	Zen Tson	忠獻王	Zhōng Xiàn Wáng	Tson Shie Waon	錢佐 (錢弘佐)	Qián Zuǒ (Qián Hóng Zuǒ)	Zi Tsu (Zi Ghon Tsu)	941–947	Tianfu (天福): 941–944 Kaiyun (開運): 944–946
Did not exist	N/A	N/A	忠遜王	Zhōng Xùn Wáng	Tson Sen Waon	錢倧 (錢弘倧)	Qián Zōng (Qián Hóng Zōng)	Zi Tson (Zi Ghon Tson)	947	Tianfu (天福): 947
Did not exist	N/A	N/A	忠懿王	Zhōng Yì Wáng	Tson I Waon	錢俶 (錢弘俶)	Qián Chù (Qián Hóng Chù)	Zi Tsoh (Zi Ghon Tsoh)	947–978	Qianyou (乾祐): 948–950 Guangshun (廣順): 951–953 Xiande (顯德): 954–960 Jianlong (建隆): 960–963 Qiande (乾德): 963–968 Kaibao (開寶): 968–976 Taiping Xingguo (太平興國): 976–978

Qian Chu submitted to the Song Dynasty in 978 and continued to reign nominally, successively as King of Huaihai, King of Hannan, King of Hanyang and Prince of Xu, and finally Prince of Deng, until his death in 988. After his death he was also posthumously created King of Qin.

Rulers family tree

Rulers family tree
Qian Liu 錢鏐 850-932 Taìzǔ (太祖) r.907-932^1 Qian Yuanguan 錢元瓘 887-941 Shìzōng (世宗) r.932-941^2 Qian Hongzun 錢弘僔 925－940 Qian Hongzuo 錢弘佐 928-947 Chéngzōng (成宗) r.941-947^3 Qián Zōng 錢倧 928-971 r.947^4 Qian Chu 錢俶 929–988 Zhongyi (忠懿王) r.947-978^5

References

Citations

1. Worthy 1983, p. 19.
2. Worthy 1983, p. 36.
3. Pan (1937)

Sources

• Chavannes, Edouard. "Le royaume de Wou et de Yue", T'oung Pao 17: 129-264 (1916).
• Mote, F.W. (1999). Imperial China (900-1800). Harvard University Press. pp. 11, 15, 22–23. ISBN 0-674-01212-7.
• Pan, Guangdan (1937). Prominent Families of Jiaxing in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Shanghai: The Commercial Press.
• Worthy, Edmund H. (1983). "Diplomacy for Survival: Domestic and Foreign Relations of Wü Yueh, 907-978". In Rossabi, Morris (ed.). China among Equals: the Middle Kingdom and its Neighbors, 10th-14th centuries. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press. pp. 17–44.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)