Chen Qian, whose name is Xiuyuan, was born in a famous family in Dongyang, Linhuai, and was the son of Situ Chen Jiao during the Cao Wei period. He has a simple and steady personality since he was a child, and is deeply loved by the elders in his family. At a young age, Chen Qian showed wisdom that was different from ordinary people, and his insight into things far exceeded that of his peers.
When Chen Qian was young, he was despised by Xiahou Xuan. However, he didn't care about this, but faced it with a more indifferent attitude, which made Xiahou Xuan feel very surprised. This incident shows that he has the ability to deal with the world.
After Chen Qian entered the official career, he successively held the positions of Shang Shulang, Zhongshan Taishou, Anping Taishou, etc., and he performed well in these official positions and was known for his good governance ability. His political achievements were remarkable, so he was rapidly promoted in the officialdom, and was successively appointed as Xiangguo Sima, Changshi, and Yushi Zhongcheng, and finally moved to Shangshu, and was also named the Marquis of Anguo Pavilion.
In the military field, Chen Qian also showed his talent. In the face of the Shu Han army's repeated attacks from Longyou, Chen Qian acted as the general of Shu as Shangshu and successfully repelled the Shu army.
Between 257 and 259, Chen Qian's career was mainly in the military field, and he held several military positions, culminating in the military of Jingzhou and the Great General of the Southern Expedition, and was made Marquis of Tan.
In 265, Sima Yan succeeded to the throne as the king of Jin, Chen Qian persuaded Sima Yan to comply with the mandate of heaven, and in 266, Sima Yan formally established the Western Jin Dynasty.
In 274, Chen Qian's position was further promoted to the rank of Tai Lieutenant, and under his leadership, the Jin army achieved a series of military victories over Eastern Wu. He personally commanded the battle, captured Zhuang Hu, the captain of Lixin in Eastern Wu, and defeated the Wu army in the garrison, greatly weakened the military strength of Eastern Wu, and made important contributions to the unification of the Western Jin Dynasty. In 276, Chen Qian was transferred to the position of Grand Sima, responsible for the military command of the whole country and the management of the army.
In Chen Qian's later years, as he grew older and his health changed, Chen Qian began to repeatedly ask Sima Yan to resign on the grounds of illness, hoping to retire behind the scenes and enjoy his old age in peace.
Sima Yan was reluctant to accept his resignation at first. However, when Chen Qian insisted on resigning, Sima Yan finally agreed to let the old minister abdicate the throne and give him a noble status equivalent to Taibao and Taifu, as well as a corresponding ceremonial staff, to show respect for Chen Qian's life's achievements.
He returned home as Gao Pinggong, and finally, on December 22, 281, Chen Qian died at the age of eighty-one.