Chu (Ten Kingdoms)
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楚 Chu ← 907 – 951 → Capital Changsha Language(s) 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, Coinage (Iron)

Chǔ (楚) was a kingdom in southern China during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period (907-960). It existed from 907 to 951.

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 Dynasty in the north in 927 and was given the posthumous title of Chu Wumuwang.

Territorial Extant

The capital of the Chu Kingdom was Changsha (Tan Prefecture (潭州)).^[1] Present-day Hunan and northeastern Guangxi were under the control of the kingdom.

Economy

Chu was peaceful and prosperous under his rule, exporting horses, silk and tea. Silk was often used as a currency, particularly with external communities which would not accept the coinage of the land. Taxation was low for peasantry and salesmen.

Fall of the 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 Nanjing and the kingdom was absorbed into the Southern Tang.

Rulers

References

• Mote, F.W. (1999). Imperial China (900-1800). Harvard University Press, 15. ISBN 0-674-01212-7. 
• "Chu 楚". The Ten Kingdoms. Retrieved on 12 April 2005.

1. ^ New History of the Five Dynasties, vol. 66[1].