Chu

State · 750–224 BCE · at its largest around 284 BCE

Large southern Chinese state in the middle Yangtze region with a distinctive culture, one of the strongest Warring States before its conquest by Qin.

On its lands while it lasted

Spring and Autumn period (770–476 BCE): Era of the Eastern Zhou in which rival states jostled for hegemony, named after the chronicle of the state of Lu.
Tengzhou (c. 750 BCE): Capital of Teng (750 BCE–451 BCE).
Fengtai County (c. 750 BCE): Capital of Cai (750 BCE–451 BCE).
Huaiyang District (c. 750 BCE): Capital of Chen (750 BCE–479 BCE).
Xincai County (c. 750 BCE): Capital of Cai (750 BCE–451 BCE).
Shangcai County (c. 750 BCE): Capital of Cai (750 BCE–451 BCE).
Huazhou District (c. 750 BCE): Capital of Zheng (750 BCE–375 BCE).
Zhaoge (c. 750 BCE): Capital of Wey (750 BCE–248 BCE).
Confucius (551 BCE – 479 BCE): Philosopher and teacher from the state of Lu whose ideas on ethics, family and government became the foundation of Confucianism.
The Art of War (c. 500 BCE): Military treatise attributed to Sun Tzu, a general associated with the state of Wu; it remains one of the most influential works on strategy.
Sword of Goujian (c. 500 BCE): Bronze sword inscribed as belonging to King Goujian of Yue, found in 1965 in a tomb at Jiangling in Hubei, remarkably free of tarnish; now in the Hubei Provincial Museum.
Nanjing (495 BCE): Capital of Eastern Wu (229–265), Southern Tang (960–976), Ming Dynasty (1375–1644), and 2 more.
Mozi (c. 470 BCE – 391 BCE): Philosopher who founded Mohism, advocating impartial care, opposition to offensive war and meritocratic government.
Tao Te Ching (c. 400 BCE): Foundational text of Taoism traditionally attributed to Laozi; most scholars date its compilation to the 4th century BCE.
Mencius (c. 372 BCE – 289 BCE): Confucian philosopher who argued that human nature is inherently good; revered as the "Second Sage" after Confucius.