Liu Zhiqian

Liu Qian (劉謙) or Liu Zhiqian (劉知謙) (d. 894), posthumously honored by Southern Han as Emperor Shengwu (聖武皇帝, "holy and martial") with the temple name of Daizu (代祖), was an army officer of the Chinese Tang dynasty's Qinghai Circuit (清海, headquartered in modern Guangzhou, Guangdong). Liu Qian, due to his accomplishments, came to hold Lingnan East's Feng Prefecture (封州, in modern Zhaoqing, Guangdong) as its prefect, and build up his army strength there, eventually, after his death, allowing his son Liu Yin to take over all of Qinghai Circuit and then for Liu Yin's younger brother Liu Yan to establish a new state of Southern Han.

Background The traditional sources conflict about Liu Qian's family origins, but what they agreed on was that he came from what was then considered meager social station. According to the New Book of Tang, he was from Shangcai, but came to reside at Feng Prefecture due to disturbances in his home region.

In 879, the major agrarian rebel Huang Chao overrun Lingnan East's capital Guang Prefecture (廣州). After Huang abandoned it in 880, the region was left in confusion. Liu Qian took this opportunity to take control of Feng Prefecture. his soldiers supported his son Liu Yin as their leader. Then-military governor of the circuit (which had been renamed Qinghai by this point) Liu Chonggui (劉崇龜) thereafter recommended Liu Yin to Emperor Xizong's brother and successor Emperor Zhaozong, and Emperor Zhaozong commissioned Liu Yin as the prefect of Feng to replace Liu Qian.

Personal information Father Liu Anren (劉安仁) or Liu Ren'an (劉仁安), posthumously honored Emperor Wen with the temple name of Taizu Wife Lady Wei, mother of Liu Yin and Liu Tai, niece of Wei Zhou (韋宙), posthumously honored Empress Wu Concubine Lady Duan, mother of Liu Yan Children Liu Yin (劉隱), later military governor of Qinghai Circuit Liu Tai (劉台) Liu Yan (劉巖), name later changed to Liu Yan (劉龑), emperor of Southern Han

Notes and references

New Book of Tang, vol. 190. Zizhi Tongjian, vols. 255, 259.