Ma Chu
Ma Chu, also called Southern Chu (南楚), was a dynastic state of China that existed from 907 to 951. In historical records it is known as Ma Chu (馬楚). Its Chinese name is Chu (Chinese: 楚; pinyin: Chǔ).
Ma Chu is counted as one of the Ten Kingdoms during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period of Chinese history.
This page is about the state. For the Islamic scholar of the Qing dynasty, see Ma Zhu.
Founding
Ma Yin was named regional governor by the Tang court in 896, after he fought against a rebel named Yang Xingmi. When the Tang dynasty ended in 907, he called himself the Prince of Chu.
In 927, the Later Tang in the north officially recognized Ma as Prince of Chu. After he died, he was given the title King Wumu of Chu.
Territories
The capital of the Chu Kingdom was Changsha (Tanzhou). The kingdom ruled over what is now Hunan and northeastern Guangxi.
Economy
Under the rule of Ma Yin, Chu was peaceful and prosperous. It sent horses, silk and tea to other places. Silk and lead were sometimes used as currency, especially when trading with outside communities that would not accept other coinage from the land. Taxes were low for farmers and merchants.
Fall of Chu
After Ma Yin died, the leaders of Chu fought with each other. This led to the end of the kingdom. The Southern Tang, which had just taken over the Min Kingdom, took advantage of the chaos and conquered Chu in 951. The ruling family was taken to the Southern Tang capital, Jinling. The next year, Chu generals rose up against the Southern Tang and forced its army out. After that, several of these generals ruled the former Chu lands, one after another. They were called Wuping Jiedushi.
Zhou Xingfeng ruled the Jiedushi from 956 to 962. In 956, he had a Southern Chu general named Pan Shusi killed. During these years, the region was mostly independent. Its center of power was usually at Lang Prefecture, in what is now Changde, Hunan. In 963, the Wuping Jiedushi came to an end, and its lands were taken by the Song dynasty.
Rulers
| 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
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