The Kingdom of Chu and Its The Kingdom of Chu and Its CultureCulture

IntroductionIntroduction

►ChuChu ( ( 楚楚 ) was a ) was a sovereign state in in present-day central and southern present-day central and southern China during the during the Spring and Autumn period (722-481 BC) and period (722-481 BC) and Warring States Period (481-221 BC). (481-221 BC).

The Spring and Autumn The Spring and Autumn PeriodPeriod

► During the Spring and Autumn period, China was ruled During the Spring and Autumn period, China was ruled by a by a feudal system. The . The Zhou Dynasty kings held kings held nominal power, but only directly ruled over a small nominal power, but only directly ruled over a small Royal Royal Demesne, revolving around their capital , revolving around their capital (modern-day (modern-day Luoyang). They granted fiefdoms over ). They granted fiefdoms over the rest of China to several hundred hereditary nobles the rest of China to several hundred hereditary nobles (Zhuhou (Zhuhou 諸侯諸侯 ). These were descendants of members ). These were descendants of members of the Zhou clan, close associates of the founders of of the Zhou clan, close associates of the founders of the dynasty, or local potentates. The most important the dynasty, or local potentates. The most important feudal princes (known later as the twelve princes, feudal princes (known later as the twelve princes, 十二十二諸侯諸侯 ) met during regular conferences, where important ) met during regular conferences, where important matters, such as military expeditions against foreign matters, such as military expeditions against foreign groups or offending nobles were decided. During these groups or offending nobles were decided. During these conferences, one prince was sometimes declared conferences, one prince was sometimes declared hegemon (hegemon ( 伯伯 , later , later 霸霸 ), and given leadership over the ), and given leadership over the armies of all the feudal states. armies of all the feudal states.

Map of the PeriodMap of the Period

Origin of the ChuOrigin of the Chu► The kingdom was originally known as The kingdom was originally known as JingJing ( ( 荆荆 ) and then as ) and then as

JingchuJingchu ( ( 荆楚荆楚 ). The land of Jing (present-day ). The land of Jing (present-day Hubei province) province) was inhabited by the native Chu people. The early Chu state was inhabited by the native Chu people. The early Chu state was ruled by an aristocracy with close affinity to the was ruled by an aristocracy with close affinity to the Zhou kings, with its capital at Danyang. In the early Western Zhou kings, with its capital at Danyang. In the early Western Zhou period, the territory was transferred by authority of the period, the territory was transferred by authority of the King Cheng of Zhou (1042-1021 BC) of Western Zhou to . (1042-1021 BC) of Western Zhou to . King Zhao of Zhou led six armies to pacify the Southern led six armies to pacify the Southern Dongyi ( ( 南东夷南东夷 ) Duke of E () Duke of E ( 噩侯噩侯 // 鄂侯鄂侯 ) in present-day ) in present-day Suizhou and his tribe south of the Han River, but King Zhao was and his tribe south of the Han River, but King Zhao was ambushed and killed. The six armies were wiped out. At the ambushed and killed. The six armies were wiped out. At the time, Zhou had 14 armies. Due to this defeat and the death of time, Zhou had 14 armies. Due to this defeat and the death of the Zhou king, Zhou did not expand further in the south, and the Zhou king, Zhou did not expand further in the south, and this allowed the southern tribes and Chu to cement their own this allowed the southern tribes and Chu to cement their own autonomy and independence much earlier than the states to autonomy and independence much earlier than the states to the north. The Chu rulers were the first to designate the north. The Chu rulers were the first to designate themselves as kings in the eighth century BCE during the themselves as kings in the eighth century BCE during the transition to Eastern Zhou and Zhou's loss of central power. transition to Eastern Zhou and Zhou's loss of central power.

TerritoriesTerritories

►At the height of its power, the Chu At the height of its power, the Chu state occupied vast areas of land, state occupied vast areas of land, including the present-day provinces of including the present-day provinces of Hunan, , Hubei, , Chongqing, , Henan, , Anhui and parts of and parts of Jiangsu and and Jiangxi. . The Chu capital was at Ying (The Chu capital was at Ying ( 郢郢 ), near ), near present-day present-day Jingzhou, Hubei province. , Hubei province. It was the largest kingdom at the time.It was the largest kingdom at the time.

The Ruling HouseThe Ruling House

► Its ruling house had the Its ruling house had the surname MiMi (( 芈芈 ), and clan name ), and clan name XiongXiong ( ( 熊熊 ), and ), and originally was of the noble rank of originally was of the noble rank of Zi, , roughly comparable to a roughly comparable to a viscount. .

► It is alleged that the nobles in Chu It is alleged that the nobles in Chu were descendents of Zhuanxu (were descendents of Zhuanxu ( 颛顼颛顼 ))

Chu CultureChu Culture

►Chu is not only the name of a state but Chu is not only the name of a state but also of a clan. The Chu state lasted also of a clan. The Chu state lasted about 800 years until it was conquered about 800 years until it was conquered by Qin in 223 BC.by Qin in 223 BC.

Martial Spirit of Chu PeopleMartial Spirit of Chu People

►Chu people, generally speaking, were Chu people, generally speaking, were not peace-loving folks. not peace-loving folks.

►The martial spirit and an intense interest The martial spirit and an intense interest of staging wars and expanding territories of staging wars and expanding territories were manifested in every respect of were manifested in every respect of social life.social life.

► It is said that if a Chu king does not It is said that if a Chu king does not stage and win at least one war during his stage and win at least one war during his reign, it would be nothing but a shame.reign, it would be nothing but a shame.

HeritagesHeritages

► Qu YuanQu Yuan (ca. 340 BCE - 278 BCE) was a (ca. 340 BCE - 278 BCE) was a Chinese scholar and scholar and minister to the King from the southern Chu during the Warring States minister to the King from the southern Chu during the Warring States Period. His works are mostly found in an anthology of poetry known Period. His works are mostly found in an anthology of poetry known as as Chu CiChu Ci. His death is traditionally commemorated on . His death is traditionally commemorated on Duanwu Duanwu FestivalFestival ,which is commonly known in English as the ,which is commonly known in English as the Dragon Boat Dragon Boat FestivalFestival or Double Fifth (fifth day of the fifth month of the traditional or Double Fifth (fifth day of the fifth month of the traditional

Chinese calendar).Chinese calendar). His works Li Shao has fascinated generations of His works Li Shao has fascinated generations of

Chinese People.Chinese People.

Comparison of Qin civilization Comparison of Qin civilization and Chu civilizationand Chu civilization

►Economics: Agriculture vs TradesEconomics: Agriculture vs Trades►Religious and Political Ideas: Legalism Religious and Political Ideas: Legalism

vs animist religion and witchcraftvs animist religion and witchcraft►Cultural Values: Pragmatism vs. Cultural Values: Pragmatism vs.

IdealismIdealism►Color Preference: Black vs. RedColor Preference: Black vs. Red►Emblem (animal): Dragon vs. PhoenixEmblem (animal): Dragon vs. Phoenix

Tomb of Marquis Yi of ZengTomb of Marquis Yi of Zeng

►Since the 1960s, more than 5,000 Since the 1960s, more than 5,000 tombs have been excavated in Hubei tombs have been excavated in Hubei Province with the Tomb of Marquis Yi Province with the Tomb of Marquis Yi of Zeng being of most famous one.of Zeng being of most famous one.

►The tomb is located in the present-day The tomb is located in the present-day Suizhou in Hubei, and was excavated Suizhou in Hubei, and was excavated in 1978. It is the tomb of a feudal king in 1978. It is the tomb of a feudal king buried 2400 years ago.buried 2400 years ago.

Sword of Goujian, king of YueSword of Goujian, king of Yue

Spear of Fuchai, king of WuSpear of Fuchai, king of Wu

The prototype of the Nine-head The prototype of the Nine-head birdbird

Bian ZhongBian Zhong

► Bianzhong bells rank among the highest Bianzhong bells rank among the highest achievements of Chinese bronze casting achievements of Chinese bronze casting technology, yet the secret of their design and technology, yet the secret of their design and the method of casting themthe method of casting them——which was which was known only to the Chinese in antiquityknown only to the Chinese in antiquity——was was lost in later generations. It was not fully lost in later generations. It was not fully rediscovered and understood until 1978, rediscovered and understood until 1978, when a complete ceremonial set of 65 when a complete ceremonial set of 65 zhongzhong bells was found in a near-perfect state of bells was found in a near-perfect state of preservation during the excavation of the preservation during the excavation of the tomb of Marquis Yi, tomb of Marquis Yi,