# Ma Chu

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