Chu () was a kingdom of China's Han dynasty, located in what is now northern Jiangsu and Anhui provinces.
History
During the Chu–Han Contention period, the Chu region centered in Pengcheng was the base of the Western Chu regime led by Xiang Yu. After Xiang's death, the Emperor Gaozu of Han first granted Chu to his general Han Xin.Book of Han, Chapter 1. After Han was accused of plotting rebellion and executed, his territories was split into two parts. Liu Jiao, brother of the emperor, gained the title "King of Chu" and ruled over the land west of the Huai River,Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 51. while the rest of Han Xin's territories eventually became the Wu Kingdom. Jiao's kingdom consisted of the commanderies of Xue, Pengcheng and Donghai. In 187 BC, Xue was split off to form the Lu Kingdom (魯國) for Zhang Yan (張偃), a grandson of the Empress Dowager Lü. The commandery was returned to Chu when the Lü clan was removed from power.Book of Han, Chapter 32.
In 154 BC, Chu under the King Liu Wu joined the Rebellion of the Seven States as one of its leading participants. After the rebellion was quelled and Wu killed, Chu passed to his son Liu Li (劉禮),Book of Han, Chapter 5. although its territory was reduced to several counties near the capital Pengcheng. In 69 BC, the king Liu Yanshou committed suicide for a conspiracy, and the kingdom was abolished.Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 50. In 51 BC, it was reestablished under Liu Xiao (劉囂), a son of the Emperor Xuan. Xiao's lineage held the kingdom until being deposed during Wang Mang's usurpation.Book of Han, Chapter 80. In early Eastern Han, Chu was granted to Liu Ying. Ying was stripped of his title during Emperor Ming's reign, and the region was subsequently administered as the Chu Commandery.Book of Later Han, Chapter 42.
In late Western Han period, the kingdom administered 7 counties: Pengcheng, Liu (留), Wu (梧), Fuyang (傅陽), Lü (呂), Wuyuan (武原) and Ziqiu (甾丘). The total population was 497,084 individuals, or 114,738 households.Book of Han, Chapter 28.
Kings NameIn ChinesePosthumous nameIn ChineseReigned fromReigned to Liu Jiao劉交King Yuan of Chu楚元王201 BC178 BCLiu Yingke劉郢客King Yi of Chu楚夷王178 BC174 BCLiu Wu劉戊––174 BC154 BCLiu Li劉禮King Wen of Chu楚文王154 BC151 BCLiu Dao劉道King An of Chu楚安王151 BC129 BCLiu Zhu劉注King Xiang of Chu楚襄王129 BC117 BCLiu Chun劉純King Jie of Chu楚节王117 BC101 BCLiu Yanshou劉延壽––101 BC69 BCLiu Xiao劉囂King Xiao of Chu楚孝王51 BC25 BCLiu Wen劉文King Huai of Chu楚怀王25 BC24 BCLiu Yan劉衍King Si of Chu楚思王24 BC2 BCLiu Yu劉紆––2 BC8 ADLiu Ying劉英––41 AD70 AD
References