Ma Chu facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Chu 楚
907–951
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: 楚; pinyin: Chǔ) was an ancient Chinese kingdom. It existed from 907 to 951 AD. People sometimes call it Ma Chu or Southern Chu. It was one of the Ten Kingdoms during a time when China was divided.

Founding the Chu Kingdom

The Chu Kingdom was started by a powerful leader named Ma Yin. In 896, the Tang dynasty government made him a regional governor. This was because he fought well against a rebel. When the Tang dynasty ended in 907, Ma Yin declared himself the Prince of Chu.

Later, in 927, another northern dynasty called the Later Tang officially recognized Ma Yin as the Prince of Chu. He was given the special title of King Wumu of Chu after his death.

Where Was the Chu Kingdom Located?

The main city and capital of the Chu Kingdom was Changsha. Today, Changsha is a big city in the Hunan province of China. The kingdom controlled most of what is now Hunan. It also ruled over the northeastern part of present-day Guangxi province.

Economy and Trade in Chu

Under Ma Yin's rule, the Chu Kingdom was a peaceful place. It also became very rich. The kingdom made money by selling important goods. These goods included horses, silk, and tea.

People in Chu often used silk and lead coins as money. This was especially true when trading with other groups. These groups might not accept other types of coins. The government also kept taxes low for farmers and merchants. This helped the economy grow even more.

The Fall of the Chu Kingdom

After Ma Yin died, there were many fights for power among his family. This caused the kingdom to become weak. The Southern Tang kingdom, which had just taken over the Min Kingdom, saw this as a chance. They attacked and conquered Chu in 951.

The ruling family of Chu was then moved to the Southern Tang capital, Jinling. However, the very next year, some Chu generals fought back. They drove out the Southern Tang forces. After this, the former Chu lands were ruled by several of these generals. They were known as the Wuping Jiedushi.

One of these generals was Zhou Xingfeng. He ruled from 956 to 962. During this time, the main center of power was in Lang Prefecture. This area is now part of Changde, Hunan. Finally, in 963, the Song dynasty took control of these lands. This officially ended the period of independent rule in the former Chu territory.

Rulers of Chu

Here are some of the main rulers of the Chu Kingdom:

• Ma Yin (ruled 907–930): He was the founder of the kingdom.
• Ma Xisheng (ruled 930–932): He was known as the Prince of Hengyang.
• Ma Xifan (ruled 932–947): He was known as King Wenzhao.
• Ma Xiguang (ruled 947–951): He was known as the Deposed Prince.
• Ma Xi'e (ruled 951): He was known as King Gongxiao.
• Ma Xichong (ruled 951): He was the last ruler before the kingdom fell.