Chu

Chu was a state in South China and Taiwan (East Asia) that lasted from c. 1030 to 223 BCE, about 807 years. Its people spoke Chinese languages (Sinitic languages).

The great southern state of the Zhou world, centered on the middle Yangtze, whose kings claimed the royal title early. Its shamanistic poetry survives in the Chu Ci of Qu Yuan, and Qin conquered it in 223 BCE.

See Chu on the interactive timeline

Facts

Dates: c. 1030 to 223 BCE
Duration: 807 years
Type: State
Region: South China and Taiwan, East Asia
Language family: Chinese
Capital: Danyang, later Ying (Jiangling) and Shouchun

Events in East Asia during its time

551 BCE Birth of Confucius

Neighbours in East Asia

Gojoseon c. 700 to 108 BCE
Qin (Zhou state) c. 770 to 221 BCE
Eastern Zhou 770 to 256 BCE
Western Zhou 1046 to 771 BCE
Zhangzhung c. 500 BCE to 644 CE
Shu kingdom (Jinsha) c. 1150 to 316 BCE
Qi c. 1046 to 221 BCE
Yan c. 1046 to 222 BCE
Lu c. 1042 to 249 BCE
Jin (Zhou state) c. 1033 to 376 BCE

Elsewhere in the world at the same time

Carthage c. 814 to 146 BCE, North and West Africa
Roman Republic 509 to 27 BCE, Europe
Parthian Empire 247 BCE to 224 CE, Middle East
Greek city-states c. 800 to 338 BCE, Europe
Neo-Assyrian Empire 911 to 609 BCE, Middle East
Ptolemaic Kingdom 305 to 30 BCE, North and West Africa
Achaemenid Empire 550 to 330 BCE, Middle East
Athens 508 to 322 BCE, Europe
Maurya Empire 322 to 185 BCE, South Asia
Empire of Alexander the Great 334 to 312 BCE, Middle East

Questions

When did Chu exist?

c. 1030 to 223 BCE, about 807 years. These dates are approximate, because the evidence for its beginning or end is uncertain.

Where was Chu?

South China and Taiwan, in East Asia. Its capital was Danyang, later Ying (Jiangling) and Shouchun.

What language did Chu speak?

Chinese. This family includes Sinitic languages.