Chǔ (楚) was a kingdom in what is now central and southern China during the Spring and Autumn period (722-481 BC) and Warring States Period (481-221 BC). The Spring and Autumn Period ( was a period in Chinese history which roughly corresponds to the first half of the Eastern Zhou dynasty (from the second half of the 8th century BC The State of Cài ( was a Chinese State during the Zhōu Dynasty (1122–256 BC prominent in the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC before Chen (陳 was a minor state of the Spring and Autumn Period in Ancient China Huáguó (滑国 referred to a vassal state of Western Zhou that existed in what is now Henan, whose ruling elites belonged to the royal family but which was destroyed Jin ( Traditional Chinese: 晉 Simplified Chinese: 晋 Pinyin: Jìn was one of the most powerful states in the Spring and Autumn Period Lu ( was an ancient state in China during the Spring and Autumn Period. Qi ( 齊; Pinyin: Qí was a powerful state during the Spring and Autumn Period and Period of the Warring States. Qín or Ch'in ( Wade-Giles) (秦 ( 778 BC - 207 BC) was a State during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods Shu ( 蜀) was an ancient state in what is now Sichuan, China. Sòng (宋國 was a state during the Eastern Zhou Spring and Autumn Period ( 770 - 476 BC) This article is about the State of Wei founded during the Spring and Autumn Period. Wu (吳 was a state during the Spring and Autumn Period in China. Yan ( was a state during the Western Zhou, Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods in China. Zheng (鄭 was a Zhou city-state in the middle of ancient China, modern Henan Province. The Warring States Period ( also known as the Era of Warring States covers the period from some time in the 5th century BC to the unification of China by the The Zhou Dynasty ( POJ: Chiu Tiau 1122 BC to 256 BC was preceded by the Shang Dynasty and followed by the Qin Dynasty in China. Qín or Ch'in ( Wade-Giles) (秦 ( 778 BC - 207 BC) was a State during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods Han (韓國 Hánguó) ( 403 BC - 230 BC) was a kingdom during the Warring States Period in China. Zhao ( Pinyin: zhào Traditional Chinese: 趙 Simplified Chinese: 赵 was a Chinese State during The following details the state of Wei of the Warring States Period. Qi ( 齊; Pinyin: Qí was a powerful state during the Spring and Autumn Period and Period of the Warring States. Yan ( was a state during the Western Zhou, Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods in China. Sòng (宋國 was a state during the Eastern Zhou Spring and Autumn Period ( 770 - 476 BC) Shu ( 蜀) was an ancient state in what is now Sichuan, China. Zou (鄒 was a small Chinese state that existed during the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period of Chinese Antiquity Lu ( was an ancient state in China during the Spring and Autumn Period. The State of Teng ( ca 1046 BC – 414 BC was a small Chinese state that existed during the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period of Zhongshan (中山國 Pinyin: Zhōngshān Guó was a State in the Zhou Dynasty that roughly corresponds to the territory of the modern prefecture-level A monarchy is a Form of government in which supreme power is actually or nominally lodged in an individual who is the Head of state, often for life or China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National The Spring and Autumn Period ( was a period in Chinese history which roughly corresponds to the first half of the Eastern Zhou dynasty (from the second half of the 8th century BC Events and trends 728 BC — Piye invades Egypt, conquering Memphis, and receives the submission of the rulers of the Nile Events By place Persian Empire The Persian King Xerxes I arrives at Sardis and begins to build The Warring States Period ( also known as the Era of Warring States covers the period from some time in the 5th century BC to the unification of China by the Events By place Carthage The Carthaginian general Hasdrubal is murdered by a Celtic assassin while campaigning to increase Its ruling house had surname mi (芈), and clan name xiong 熊, and originally was of the noble rank of zi, roughly comparable to a viscount. Chinese family name is one of the hundreds or thousands of Family names that have been historically used by Han Chinese and Sinicized Chinese ethnic Wang (King and Huangdi (Emperor The King or Wang (Chinese 王 or 國王 wáng was the title of the Chinese Head of state until the Qin dynasty A viscount ( VAI-count is a member of the European Nobility whose comital title ranks usually as in the British peerage, above a

It was originally known as Jing (荆) and then as Jingchu (荆楚). At the height of its power, the Chu kingdom occupied vast areas of land, including the present-day provinces of Hunan, Hubei, Chongqing, Henan, Shanghai, and parts of Jiangsu. ( is a province of China, located in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River and south of Lake Dongting (hence the name Hunan, meaning ( Postal map spelling: Hupeh) is a central province of the People's Republic of China. Chongqing ( Postal map spelling: Chungking; Wade-Giles: Ch'ung-ch'ing) is the largest and most populous of the People's Republic of China Henan ( is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the central part of the country Shanghai ( 上[[wikt 海|海]] is the largest city in China in terms of population and one of the largest urban areas in the world with over 20 million ( Postal map spelling: Kiangsu) is a province of the People's Republic of China, located along the east coast of the country The Chu capital was at Ying (郢), around modern-day Jingzhou, which is located in what is today Hubei province. Jingzhou ( is a city in the Hubei province of the People's Republic of China, on the banks of the Yangtze River (Chang Jiang

History

A lacquer coffin decorated with birds and dragons, from the State of Chu, 4th century BC. In a general sense lacquer is a clear or coloured Varnish, that dries by solvent evaporation and often a curing process as well that produces a hard durable finish in any A coffin (also known as a casket in North American English) is a funerary Box used in the display and containment of deceased remains – either for

The land of Jing was inhabited by the native Chu people. The early Chu state was ruled by an aristocracy with close affinity to the Zhou kings, with its capital at Danyang. The Zhou Dynasty ( POJ: Chiu Tiau 1122 BC to 256 BC was preceded by the Shang Dynasty and followed by the Qin Dynasty in China. Prior to the dissolution of Zhou's power, the territory was transferred by authority of the King Cheng of Zhou of Eastern Zhou to Xiong Yi. King Cheng of Zhou ( ch 周成王 zhōu chéng wáng or King Ch'eng of Chou was the second sovereign of the Chinese Zhou Dynasty.

In its early years, Chu was a successful expansionist and militaristic state. Chu developed a reputation for coercing and absorbing its allies. Chu grew from a small, dependent state into a large empire worthy of contention, even attaining the traditional title of one of "The Five Overlord States of the Spring and Autumn Period" (春秋五霸). Chu first consolidated its power by absorbing the lesser states within its immediate vicinity in Hubei; then, it expanded into the north towards the North China Plain. ( Postal map spelling: Hupeh) is a central province of the People's Republic of China. The North China Plain ( is based on the deposits of the Huang He (Yellow River and is the largest Alluvial plain of eastern Asia. The threat from Chu resulted in multiple northern alliances against Chu and its allies; these alliances successfully kept Chu in check, with its first major victory at the Battle of Chengpu. The Battle of Chengpu (城濮之戰 was a conflict between the states of Jin against Chu and its allies in China in 632 BC during the Spring

The kingdom's power continued even after the end of the Spring and Autumn period in 481 BC. The Spring and Autumn Period ( was a period in Chinese history which roughly corresponds to the first half of the Eastern Zhou dynasty (from the second half of the 8th century BC Chu overran Cai to the north in 447 BC. The State of Cài ( was a Chinese State during the Zhōu Dynasty (1122–256 BC prominent in the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC before Events By place Greece Pericles leads Athenian forces in the expulsion of barbarians from the Thracian peninsula of However, by the end of the 5th century BC, the Chu government had become very corrupt and inefficient with much of the state's treasury to pay for a large official retinue. The 5th century BC started the first day of 500 BC and ended the last day of 401 BC. Many officials had no meaningful task to the state except taking money. Thus, Chu's large army was of low quality due to poor funding.

In the late 390s BC, King Dao of Chu (楚悼王) made Wu Qi his prime minister. Deaths Socrates 399 BC Wu Qi ( d 381 BC was a Chinese military leader and Politician in the Warring States period Wu Qi's reforms began in 389 BCE to transform Chu into an efficient and powerful state, lowering the salaries of officials and removing useless ones. He also enacted building codes to make the capital, Ying seem less barbaric. Despite Wu Qi's massive unpopularity with the Chu government (except the King), his reforms made Chu very powerful until the early 4th century BC, when Zhao and Qin were ascendant. The 4th century BC started the first day of 400 BC and ended the last day of 301 BC. Zhao ( Pinyin: zhào Traditional Chinese: 趙 Simplified Chinese: 赵 was a Chinese State during Qín or Ch'in ( Wade-Giles) (秦 ( 778 BC - 207 BC) was a State during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods Chu's powerful army annexed Chen and Cai states, defeating the states of Wei and Yue. Chen (陳 was a minor state of the Spring and Autumn Period in Ancient China The State of Cài ( was a Chinese State during the Zhōu Dynasty (1122–256 BC prominent in the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC before The following details the state of Wei of the Warring States Period. However, Wu Qi was assassinated by the Chu officials at the funeral of King Dao in 381 BC. Wu Qi ( d 381 BC was a Chinese military leader and Politician in the Warring States period Events By place Persian Empire The Persian generals Tiribazus and Orontes invade Cyprus with an army far larger than any King Evagoras

During the late Warring States Period, Chu was increasingly pressured by Qin to its west, especially after Qin enacted and preserved the legalistic reforms of Shang Yang. Shang Yang ( d 338 BC was an important statesman of Qin in the Warring States Period of ancient China. Chu's size and power made it the key state in alliances against Qin. As Qin expanded into Chu territory, Chu was forced to expand southwards and eastwards, absorbing local cultural influences along the way. In 333 BC, Chu and Qi partitioned and annexed the coastal state of Yue. Events By place Macedonia King Alexander of Macedonia conquers western Asia Minor, subduing the hill tribes of Qi ( 齊; Pinyin: Qí was a powerful state during the Spring and Autumn Period and Period of the Warring States.

By the late Warring States period (about the late 4th century BC), however, Chu's prominent status had fallen into decay. The Warring States Period ( also known as the Era of Warring States covers the period from some time in the 5th century BC to the unification of China by the The 4th century BC started the first day of 400 BC and ended the last day of 301 BC. As a result of several invasions headed by Zhao and Qin, Chu was eventually subjugated by Qin. Zhao ( Pinyin: zhào Traditional Chinese: 趙 Simplified Chinese: 赵 was a Chinese State during Qín or Ch'in ( Wade-Giles) (秦 ( 778 BC - 207 BC) was a State during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods

In 278 BC, Qin general Bai Qi conquered Yingdu. Events By place Seleucid Empire After their defeats in Greece, the Gauls move into Asia Minor. Qín or Ch'in ( Wade-Giles) (秦 ( 778 BC - 207 BC) was a State during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods Bai Qi ( (?- 257 BC) was an outstanding Military leader in the State of Qin in the Warring States Period. Following the fall of Yingdu, Shouchun (in today's Anhui province) became the state's capital-in-exile. Shou County (寿县 is a county in Anhui under the jurisdiction of Lu'an. Anhui (in Chinese: 安徽 Ānhuī) is a province of the People's Republic of China.

Qin's Conquest of Chu 225-223 BC

Bronze bells from the Tomb of Marquis Yi of Zeng, dated 433 BC, State of Chu. The Tomb of Marquis Yi of Zeng ( is an important archaeological site in Suizhou, Hubei, China, dated sometime after 433 BC

In 225 BC, only three kingdoms (states) remained independent: Chu, Yan and Qi. Events By place Roman Republic A coalition of Cisalpine Gallic tribes ( Taurini, Taurisces Insubres, Lingones Yan ( was a state during the Western Zhou, Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods in China. Qi ( 齊; Pinyin: Qí was a powerful state during the Spring and Autumn Period and Period of the Warring States. Chu had recovered significantly enough to mount serious resistance after their disastrous defeats to Qin in 278 BC and losing their centuries-old capital of Ying (Jingzhou). Jingzhou ( is a city in the Hubei province of the People's Republic of China, on the banks of the Yangtze River (Chang Jiang Despite its territorial size, resources and manpower, Chu's fatal flaw was its largely corrupt government that mostly overturned the legalistic-style reforms of Wu Qi 150 years ago, when Wu Qi transformed Chu into the most powerful state with an area of almost half of all the states combined. Wu Qi ( d 381 BC was a Chinese military leader and Politician in the Warring States period Ironically, Wu Qi was from the same state (Wei) as Shang Yang, whose legalistic reforms turned Qin into an invincible war machine at this stage. The following details the state of Wei of the Warring States Period. Shang Yang ( d 338 BC was an important statesman of Qin in the Warring States Period of ancient China.

The King of Qin, Ying Zheng, decided to first defeat the strongest state, Chu. Qín or Ch'in ( Wade-Giles) (秦 ( 778 BC - 207 BC) was a State during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods Qin Shi Huang ( (259 BC – September 10 210 BC personal name Yíng Zhèng, was king of the Chinese State of Qin from 247 BCE to 221 BCE (during the However, the first invasion was a disaster when northern style Qin troops were defeated by 500,000 Chu troops in the unfamiliar territory of Huaiyang, modern-day northern Jiangsu and Anhui provinces. ( Postal map spelling: Kiangsu) is a province of the People's Republic of China, located along the east coast of the country Anhui (in Chinese: 安徽 Ānhuī) is a province of the People's Republic of China. The Qin general was Li Xing, who was inexperienced.

In 224 BC, the famed conqueror of the state of Zhao, Wang Jian, was recalled to lead a second invasion with 600,000 men. Events By place Greece After the Spartan King Cleomenes III takes Pellene Phlius and Argos, Aratus Zhao ( Pinyin: zhào Traditional Chinese: 趙 Simplified Chinese: 赵 was a Chinese State during Chu's morale was greatly increased after their success in defeating the seemingly invincible army of Qin the year before. The Chu forces were content to sit back and defend and believed it was Qin's intention to besiege Chu. However, Wang Jian tricked the Chu army by appearing to play around in his fortifications but secretly training his troops to fight in Chu territory. After a year, Chu decided to disband due to inaction. Wang Jian invaded at the best moment with full force to overrun Huaiyang and the remaining Chu forces. Chu lost the initiative and could only sustain local guerrilla-style resistance until fully conquered in 223 BC. Events By place Seleucid Empire The Seleucid king Seleucus III is assassinated in Phrygia by members of his army During their peak sizes, both armies of Chu and Qin combined numbered over 1,000,000 troops, more than the massive battle of Changping between Qin and Zhao 35 years before. The Battle of Changping (zh-Hant 長平之戰 in 260 BC was a decisive victory of the State of Qin of China over Zhao during the Warring States The excavated personal letters of two Qin regular soldiers, Hei Fu {黑夫} and Jin {惊}, tell of a protracted campaign in Huaiyang under general Wang Jian. Both soldiers wrote letters requesting supplies (clothing) and money from home to sustain the long waiting campaign.

After defeating the strong northern states of Wei, Han, Zhao and Qi did Qin face Chu, since the Chu realm was vast with many ethnicities. Qin had difficulty supplying troops in the vast forests, rivers and mountains of southern China, especially in later campaigns to subdue the Baiyue. Furthermore, locals in recently conquered Chu areas openly ignored the stringent Qin laws and governance, which was recorded by the bamboo slips of a Qin administrator in Hubei, Xi{喜}. Since Chu was the last state to fall, only 11 years before the death of Qin Shihuang and did not suffer great massacres or destruction, it was the leading state in the anti-Qin rebellion. Qin Shi Huang ( (259 BC – September 10 210 BC personal name Yíng Zhèng, was king of the Chinese State of Qin from 247 BCE to 221 BCE (during the Chu people were resentful of the forced labor under Qin and folk poems record the sadness of the Chu families of men who worked in the frigid north to construct the Great Wall of China. The Great Wall of China ( or ( is a series of stone and earthen Fortifications in China, built rebuilt and maintained between the 6th century BC and the 16th Eventually, two men from the Chu land, Liu Bang and Xiang Yu led the anti-Qin revolution and fought each other in the Chu-Han Contention to rule China. Early life Liú Bāng was born into a lower class farming family in Pei (present Pei County in Jiangsu Province) Xiang Yu ( 232 BC – 202 BC was a prominent general during the fall of the Qin Dynasty. Liu Bang prevailed and created the Han Dynasty that lasted for 400 years. The Han Dynasty ( 206 BC–220 AD followed the Qin Dynasty and preceded the Three Kingdoms in China.

The Chu people and customs were major influences in the new era of Western Han. The Han Dynasty ( 206 BC–220 AD followed the Qin Dynasty and preceded the Three Kingdoms in China. Eventually, by the time of Han Wudi, Chu folk culture and aesthetics were gradually amalgamated with Qin-styled centralized governance to create a distinct and unified "Chinese" culture, visible during the Eastern Han period. Background birth and years as crown prince Emperor Wu was the tenth child of Emperor Jing, and was born to one of Emperor Jing's favorite Concubines, The Han Dynasty ( 206 BC–220 AD followed the Qin Dynasty and preceded the Three Kingdoms in China.

Culture

State of Chu
(bronzeware script, ca. Chinese Bronze inscriptions are writing in a variety of Chinese scripts on Chinese bronze artifacts such as zhōng bells and dǐng tripodal cauldrons 800 BC)

State of Chu
(small seal script, 220 BC)

Based on archaeological finds, Chu's culture was initially quite similar to that of other Zhou states. Seal script ( Chinese: Simplified 篆书 篆書 Pinyin: zhuànshū is an ancient style of Chinese calligraphy. Events By place Greece Together with fellow Illyrian Scerdilaidas, Demetrius of Pharos attacks Illyrian cities under Archaeology, archeology, or archæology (from Greek grc ἀρχαιολογία archaiologia – grc ἀρχαῖος archaīos Later on, Chu culture absorbed indigenous elements as the state expanded to the south and east, developing a distinct culture from the traditional Northern Zhou states.

Early Chu burial offerings consisted primarily of bronze vessels in the Zhou style. Later Chu burials, especially during the Warring States Period, featured distinct Chu burial objects, such as colorful lacquerware, iron and silk, accompanied by a reduction in bronze vessel offerings. In a general sense lacquer is a clear or coloured Varnish, that dries by solvent evaporation and often a curing process as well that produces a hard durable finish in any Iron (ˈаɪɚn is a Chemical element with the symbol Fe (ferrum and Atomic number 26 Silk is a natural Protein Fiber, some forms of which can be woven into Textiles The best-known type of silk is obtained from cocoons List This is a list of Chinese names of bronze vessels: ding (鼎 dou (豆 dui (敦

A common Chu motif was the depiction of snakes, mystical dragons, free-flowing clouds and serpent-like beings. In art a motif is a repeated idea pattern image or theme Paisley designs are referred to as motifs Some archaeologists speculate that Chu may have had cultural connections to the vanished Shang dynasty, since many motifs used by Chu appeared earlier at Shang sites, such as motifs depicting serpent-tailed gods. The Shang Dynasty ( Chinese: 商[[wiktionary 朝|朝]] or Yin Dynasty ( 殷[[wiktionary 代|代]] was according to traditional sources the

Later Chu culture was known for its affinity for employing shamanistic rituals. Chu was also known for its distinct music; archaeological evidence shows that Chu music was annotated differently from Zhou music; Chu music also showed an inclination for using different performance ensembles, as well as unique instruments; In Chu, the se was preferred over the qin, while both instruments were equally preferred in the northern Zhou states. The se ( is an ancient Chinese plucked Zither ( String instrument) The (simplified/traditional 古琴; Pinyin: gǔqín

Chu came into frequent contact with other peoples in the south, most notably the Ba, Yue and the Hundred Yue. Ba (巴 was an ancient state in eastern Sichuan, China. Its original capital was Zhi ( Fuling) Chongqing. Numerous burials and burial objects in the Ba and Yue styles were discovered throughout the territory of Chu, co-existing with Chu-style burials and burial objects.

The early rulers of the Han Dynasty romanticized the culture of Chu, sparking a renewed interest in Chu cultural elements such as the Chu Ci. The Han Dynasty ( 206 BC–220 AD followed the Qin Dynasty and preceded the Three Kingdoms in China. Chu Ci ( also known as Songs of the South or Songs of Chu, is an anthology Evidence of heavy Chu cultural influence during the early years of Han Dynasty appears in Mawangdui. The Han Dynasty ( 206 BC–220 AD followed the Qin Dynasty and preceded the Three Kingdoms in China. Mawangdui ( is an archaeological site located in Changsha, China. After the Han dynasty, Chu developed an undeserved reputation for being a barbarian state; Confucian scholars considered Chu culture with distaste, criticizing the "lewd" music and shamanistic rituals associated with Chu culture. Confucianism ( is a Chinese ethical and philosophical system originally developed from the teachings of the fifth century B

Chu artisanship shows a mastery of form and color, especially the lacquer woodworks. In a general sense lacquer is a clear or coloured Varnish, that dries by solvent evaporation and often a curing process as well that produces a hard durable finish in any Red and black pigmented lacquer were most used. Silk-weaving also attained a high level of craftsmanship, creating lightweight robes with flowing designs. These examples were preserved in waterlogged tombs (this preserved lacquerware, which is vulnerable to peel off in dry conditions) and coal/white clay sealed tombs (this preserved everything extremely well, since fine white clay is extremely tight-packed). Mawangdui is the prefect example of well-sealed tomb. Mawangdui ( is an archaeological site located in Changsha, China.

As a southern state, Chu was close to the Wu-Yue influences. Chu produced broad bronze swords that were similar to Wuyue swords, but not as intricate. Chu also used the difficult to read script called "Birds and Worms (鸟虫文}" style, which was common in the Wu and Yue states.

Chu was in the region of many rivers, so it created an efficient riverine boat transport system augmented by wagons. These are detailed in bronze tallies with gold inlay regarding trade regulations around the capital, Ying.

Famous people

• Famed poet Qu Yuan hailed from Chu. Biography Qu Yuan born in the Xiling Gorge area of what is today western Hubei province was a minister in the government of the state of Chu descended from nobility A government minister and a patriot, he had advocated uniting with the other states to combat the rising hegemon Qin, yet to no avail; he was banished by the king of Chu. Qín or Ch'in ( Wade-Giles) (秦 ( 778 BC - 207 BC) was a State during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods According to tradition, such was his grief upon learning of the Qin invasion, he committed suicide in the Miluo River. Qín or Ch'in ( Wade-Giles) (秦 ( 778 BC - 207 BC) was a State during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods Miluo River ( Pinyin:mìluó jiāng Chinese:汩罗江 is an important river in the Dongting Lake watershed. The Duanwu Festival honors his death for his country.
• Warrior King Xiang Yu, also known as "Overlord of Western Chu"; he destroyed every single Qin army and also was rival to Han Dynasty founder Liu Bang. Xiang Yu ( 232 BC – 202 BC was a prominent general during the fall of the Qin Dynasty. The Han Dynasty ( 206 BC–220 AD followed the Qin Dynasty and preceded the Three Kingdoms in China. Early life Liú Bāng was born into a lower class farming family in Pei (present Pei County in Jiangsu Province) He was fearsome in the battlefield but arrogance lead to his downfall.
• Han Dynasty founder Liu Bang. The Han Dynasty ( 206 BC–220 AD followed the Qin Dynasty and preceded the Three Kingdoms in China. Early life Liú Bāng was born into a lower class farming family in Pei (present Pei County in Jiangsu Province) He was born in Pei County, in modern Xuzhou, which is in northern Jiangsu. Administration The Prefecture-level city of Xuzhou administers eleven county-level divisions, including five districts, two county-level ( Postal map spelling: Kiangsu) is a province of the People's Republic of China, located along the east coast of the country An intelligent statesman and ruler, he defeated the military genius Xiang Yu through his ability to attract and command talented generals and allies. After the formation of Western Han Dynasty, a blossoming of interest in Chu culture arose under Liu Bang's patronage. The Han Dynasty ( 206 BC–220 AD followed the Qin Dynasty and preceded the Three Kingdoms in China.

See also

• Chu Ci
• Guodian Chu Slips
• King Zhuang of Chu
• Song Yu
• Wu Qi
• Mawangdui
• Tomb of Marquis Yi of Zeng
• Chu silk manuscripts

References

• Defining Chu: Image And Reality In Ancient China, Edited by Constance A. Chu Ci ( also known as Songs of the South or Songs of Chu, is an anthology The Guodian Chu Slips ( were unearthed in 1993 in Tomb no 1 of the Guodian tombs in Jingmen Hubei. King Zhuāng of Chǔ (楚莊王 (died 591 BC was leader in the state of Chu and one of the Five Hegemons in the Spring and Autumn Period of Chinese Song Yu ( fl 3rd century BCE) was a well-known Chinese poet in the State of Chu. Wu Qi ( d 381 BC was a Chinese military leader and Politician in the Warring States period Mawangdui ( is an archaeological site located in Changsha, China. The Tomb of Marquis Yi of Zeng ( is an important archaeological site in Suizhou, Hubei, China, dated sometime after 433 BC Cook and John S. Major, ISBN 0-8248-2905-0
• So, Jenny F. , Music in the Age of Confucius, ISBN 0-295-97953-4

Further reading

• Cook, Constance. Death in Ancient China: The Tale of One Man's Journey. Leiden: Brill, 2006 ISBN 90-04-15312-8

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