Wu Qian

Life

His father was Wu Rousheng (1154–1224), and his elder brother was Wu Yuan (1190–1257); Wu Lin is listed as a second son, while Wu Gao is described by the two kin terms “sixth-generation descendant” and “昆孫.”

He passed the jinshi examination and entered official service.

His prefectural appointments included Jiaxing Prefecture (1230–1231), Shengzhou (1233–1234), Nanping Army (1235–1236), and Hongzhou (1235). He later served at Longxing Prefecture (1237–1238), Lin’an Prefecture (1240), and Jianning Prefecture (1242).

He was governor of Fuzhou and Pacification Commissioner of Fujian Circuit in 1247–1249; he served at Qingyuan Prefecture and as Grand Commissioner along the River from 1256 to 1259, and at Xuanzhou from 1259 to 1260. He also held the offices of Pacification Commissioner of Jiangnan East, Regional Superintendent of Huainan East, Deputy Transport Commissioner of Jiangnan West, and Deputy Coastal Defense Commissioner of Eastern Liangzhe.

At the central government, his appointments included Acting Vice Minister of Revenue, Vice Minister of Revenue, Minister and Vice Ministers of War, Vice Director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, Editor of the Secret Archives, Vice Councillor of State, and Chancellor. His court and honorific appointments included Academician of the Duanming Palace, Academician of the Zizheng Palace, Academician of the Guanwen Palace, and the titles Duke of Chong and Duke of Xu.

His career culminated in the office of Left Chancellor and the title Duke of Xu. He opposed the abuses of Ding大全, Shen Yan, and Gao Zhu; Shen Yan later impeached him, and he was banished to Jianchang Army.

Associations and writings

After Wu Qian became chancellor, Yao Mian, who had withdrawn after speaking with unusual directness, was summoned to serve as a Collator of Books; Xie Fangde accepted Wu Qian’s recruitment and organized militia to defend Raozhou and Xinzhou.

His friends included Liu Zhensun, Qin Jiushao, and Ju Yan. Lu Tianji and Qian Dayou were among his students, while the ci poet Wu Wenying travelled with Wu Qian and others.

The titles associated with his writings include *Yizhai yiji* (《履齋遺集》), also found as *Yizhai yiqi* (《履齋遺棄》). His literary activity included a postface for Wei Liaoweng’s *Complete Works of Master Heshan*, a preface for Li Jian’s *Right Collection of Xuancheng*, funerary inscriptions for Sun Mengguan and Mei Yingqi, a temple inscription for Zhi Yuan, and a biography of Qiu Wanqing.