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Chu

907–951
L.LIANG.jpg
Capital Changsha
Common languages Middle Chinese
Government Monarchy
Prince/King  
• 907–930
Ma Yin
• 950–951
Ma Xichong
Historical era Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period
• Became the State
907
• establishment of the Kingdom
927
• Ended by Southern Tang
951
Currency Silk, Cash coins (Iron)
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Tang dynasty
Southern Tang
Today part of China

Chu (Chinese: ; pinyin: Chǔ), known in historiography as Ma Chu (馬楚) or Southern Chu (南楚), was a dynastic state of China that existed from 907 to 951. It is counted as one of the Ten Kingdoms during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period of Chinese history.

Founding

Ma Yin was named regional governor by the Tang court in 896 after fighting against a rebel named Yang Xingmi. He declared himself as the Prince of Chu with the fall of the Tang dynasty in 907. Ma's position as Prince of Chu was confirmed by the Later Tang in the north in 927 and was given the posthumous title of King Wumu of Chu.

Territories

The capital of the Chu Kingdom was Changsha (Tanzhou). The kingdom ruled over present-day Hunan and northeastern Guangxi.

Economy

Chu was peaceful and prosperous under Ma Yin's rule, exporting horses, silk and tea. Silk and lead coinage were often used as currency, particularly with external communities which would not accept other coinage of the land. Taxation was low for the peasantry and merchants.

Fall of Chu

After Ma Yin died the leadership was subject to struggle and conflict which resulted in the fall of the kingdom. The Southern Tang, fresh from its conquest of the Min Kingdom, took advantage and conquered the kingdom in 951. The ruling family was removed to the Southern Tang capital of Jinling. However, the following year, Chu generals rose against Southern Tang and expelled the Southern Tang expeditionary force, leaving the former Chu territory to be ruled by several of those generals called Wuping Jiedushi (武平军节度使) in succession.

Zhou Xingfeng (周行逢) ruled the Jiedushi from 956-962. In 956, Zhou Xingfeng executed and beheaded Pan Shusi (潘叔嗣), a general of the Southern Chu.

During these post-Chu years of de facto independence, the center of power was usually at Lang Prefecture (朗州, in modern Changde, Hunan).

In 963, the Wuping Jiedushi ended and its territory was seized by the Song dynasty.

Rulers

Sovereigns in Chu Kingdom 907–951 (+ Rulers of Formerly Chu Lands 951–963)
Temple Names ( Miao Hao 廟號; miaò haò) Posthumous Names ( Shi Hao 諡號 ) Personal Names Period of Reigns Era Names (Nian Hao 年號) and their according range of years
Did not exist Wǔmù Wáng 武穆王 Mǎ Yīn
馬殷
907–930 Did not exist
Did not exist None (commonly known as Prince of Hengyang (Chinese: 衡陽王; pinyin: Héngyáng Wáng)) Mǎ Xīshēng
馬希聲
930–932 Did not exist
Did not exist Wénzhāo Wáng 文昭王 Mǎ Xīfàn
馬希範
932–947 Did not exist
Did not exist None (commonly known as Deposed Prince (Chinese: 廢王; pinyin: Fèi Wáng)) Mǎ Xīguǎng
馬希廣
947–951 Did not exist
Did not exist Gōngxìao Wáng 恭孝王 Mǎ Xī'è
馬希萼
951 Did not exist
Did not exist Did not exist Mǎ Xīchóng
馬希崇
951 Did not exist

Ma rulers family tree

Ma Chu rulers family tree
Ma Yin 馬殷 (b. 853–d. 930)
Wumu 楚武穆王
r. 907–930
Ma Xizhen 馬希振 Ma Xisheng
馬希聲 899–932
r. 930–932
Ma Xifan 馬希範 (899–947)
Wénzhāo 文昭
r. 932–947
Ma Xiwang
馬希旺 d. ~933
Ma Xigao
馬希杲 d. 945
Mǎ Xī'è
馬希萼
r. 950–951
Mǎ Xīchóng
馬希崇 b.912
r. 950–951
Mǎ Xīguǎng
馬希廣 d.950
r. 947–950
Mǎ Guānghuì
马光惠
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