Ma Chu

Template:Short description Chu (Template:Zh), known in historiography as Ma Chu () or Southern Chu (), 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 ; )	Posthumous Names ( Shi Hao )	Personal Names	Period of Reigns	Era Names (Nian Hao ) and their according range of years
Did not exist		Mǎ Yīn	907–930	Did not exist
Did not exist	None (commonly known as Prince of Hengyang (Template:Zh))	Mǎ Xīshēng	930–932	Did not exist
Did not exist		Mǎ Xīfàn	932–947	Did not exist
Did not exist	None (commonly known as Deposed Prince (Template:Zh))	Mǎ Xīguǎng	947–951	Did not exist
Did not exist		Mǎ Xī'è	951	Did not exist
Did not exist	Did not exist	Mǎ Xīchóng	951	Did not exist