Chǔ (楚) was a kingdom in southern China during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period (907-960). It existed from 907 to 951.
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...
more
Chǔ (楚) was a kingdom in southern China during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period (907-960). It existed from 907 to 951.
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.
The capital of the Chu Kingdom was Changsha (Tan Prefecture (潭州)). Present-day Hunan and northeastern Guangxi were under the control of the kingdom.
Chu was peaceful and prosperous under Ma Yin's 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 the peasantry and merchants.
After Ma Yin died the leadership was subject to struggle and conflict which resulted in the fall of the kingdom. The Southern...
less
