Chu (楚) was a kingdom in what-is-now China during the Period of Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms. It survived for less than half a century, specifically 907 until 951, and its capital was Tanzhou 潭州 (modern day Changsha 長沙).

It was founded under Ma Yin (馬殷) who had fought against a rebel named Yang Xingmi 楊行密 (who became emperor of Wu ) under the generals Sun Ru 孫儒 and Liu Jianfeng 劉建鋒. He became jiedushi (節度使) of a precursor kingdom named Hunan (湖南). In 907 he became the king of the new kingdom of Chu.

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 except the coinage of the land. After Ma Yin died the leadership was subject to struggle and conflict which continued until the fall of the kingdom. In 951 the Southern Tang conquered the region and became a principality until 962 when the Song Dynasty invaded.

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