Wu

Wu was a state in South China and Taiwan (East Asia) that lasted from 585 to 473 BCE, about 112 years. Its people spoke Chinese languages (Sinitic languages).

A state of the lower Yangtze whose general Sun Tzu, by tradition the author of The Art of War, helped King Helu defeat Chu. Its old enemy Yue destroyed it in 473 BCE.

See Wu on the interactive timeline

Facts

Dates

585 to 473 BCE

Duration

112 years

Type

State

Region

South China and Taiwan, East Asia

Language family

Chinese

Capital

Gusu (Suzhou)

Events in East Asia during its time

• 551 BCE Birth of Confucius

Neighbours in East Asia

• Chu c. 1030 to 223 BCE
• Gojoseon c. 700 to 108 BCE
• Qin (Zhou state) c. 770 to 221 BCE
• Eastern Zhou 770 to 256 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
• Greek city-states c. 800 to 338 BCE, Europe
• Achaemenid Empire 550 to 330 BCE, Middle East
• Athens 508 to 322 BCE, Europe

Questions