Legend of King Qian

The Legend of King Qian is a folk legend derived from the life story of Qian Liu, the founding king of the Wuyue Kingdom during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period of Chinese history. Lin'an, now known as Hangzhou, is the hometown of King Qian, and his legendary stories have been widely circulated and well-known throughout the Wuyue region (now Zhejiang Province, Shanghai City, south of Jiangsu Province, as well as parts of Anhui and Jiangxi provinces) of China for over a thousand years.

Qian Liu (852-932 AD), the king of Wuyue, was born in Lin'an, Hangzhou. He was a prominent regional leader during the turbulent transition from the Tang Dynasty to the Five Dynasties, and was known for his achievements in both civil and military affairs. Born into poverty, he began his career trading salt. During the late Tang Dynasty and the Five Dynasties period, he controlled the area of southern Jiangsu and Zhejiang (eastern and western Zhejiang), implementing policies of "safeguarding the country and the people, and doing good for China". In May 907 AD, he was conferred the title of King of Wuyue by the Later Liang Dynasty, founding his own kingdom and establishing the capital at Qiantang (now Hangzhou), adopting the reign title of Emperor Ai of Tang, "Tianyou", and changing it to "Tianbao" in the second year. He led Wuyue to become the wealthiest state in the region and laid the economic foundation for the Taihu Basin to become the "land of fish and rice" and Suzhou-Hangzhou to become a "paradise on earth".

The Legend of King Qian is rich in content, including stories about his life and family background; his bravery and intelligence; his hardships and achievements; his efforts to eliminate tyranny and promote the well-being of the people; and the posthumous titles granted to him and his descendants by Song emperors. Local chronicles such as Song Wenyin's "Xiangshan Yelu", Lin Yu's "Wuyue Beishi", Bi Zhongxun's "Mufuyan Xianlu", Qian Shuyou's "Xianchun Lin'an Chronicle", Sheng Ruzi's "Shuzhai Laoxue Congtan", and Liu Yiqing's "Qiantang Yishi" all record these legends. There are stories of him in almost every place where King Qian has been. In addition, there are a host of legends about place names, local landscapes and customs.

The Legend of King Qian comprehensively showcases Qian Liu's wise governance, his ability to assess situations, recruit talents, enforce laws fairly, accept advice, and cherish his hometown and friendships, among other noble qualities.

The Legend of King Qian, which has been handed down for more than a thousand years since the late Tang Dynasty and the Five Dynasties, covers all aspects of politics, economics, culture, religion and education. It is of great significance for studying the political, economic, cultural, and social development of the Wuyue Kingdom during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. It also serves as an important reference for studies in history, folklore, sociology, literature, and art.

In 2011, the Legend of King Qian was listed as a representative project of national intangible cultural heritage.