The post of prime minister (), translated as prime minister or

chancellor Chancellor ( la, cancellarius) is a title of various official positions in the governments of many nations. The original chancellors were the of Roman courts of justice—ushers, who sat at the or lattice work screens of a basilica or law cou ...

, was an official government position established in the

Chu state Chu, or Ch'u in Wade–Giles romanization, (, Hanyu Pinyin: Chǔ, Old Chinese: ''*s-r̥aʔ'') was a Zhou dynasty vassal state. Their first ruler was King Wu of Chu in the early 8th century BCE. Chu was located in the south of the Zhou he ...

during the

Spring and Autumn period The Spring and Autumn period was a period in Chinese history from approximately 770 to 476 BC (or according to some authorities until 403 BC) which corresponds roughly to the first half of the Eastern Zhou period. The period's name derives fr ...

of Chinese history (771 – 475 BCE).

King Wu of Chu King Wu of Chu (, died 690 BC) was the first king of the State of Chu during the Spring and Autumn period of ancient China. He was the second son of Xiao'ao, and brother of former ruler Fenmao whom he is rumored to have murdered in 740 BC in order ...

(reigned 740 – 690 BCE) first established the position of prime minister which remained the most important government office in Chu until its destruction by the

Qin state Qin () was an ancient Chinese state during the Zhou dynasty. Traditionally dated to 897 BC, it took its origin in a reconquest of western lands previously lost to the Rong; its position at the western edge of Chinese civilization permitted ex ...

in 223 BCE The post was normally given to a member of the Chu king's family and records show that only two Chu prime ministers were not related to the Chu king. They were Peng Zhongshuang (), a civilian from the Shen state, at the time of

King Wen of Chu King Wen of Chu (, died 677 BC) was from 689 to 677 BC king of the state of Chu during the Spring and Autumn period of ancient China. He was born Xiong Zi () and King Wen was his posthumous title. King Wen succeeded his father King Wu of Chu, w ...

(reigned 689 – 677 BCE) and the Wei general

Wu Qi Wu Qi (, 440–381 BC) was a Chinese Chinese can refer to: * Something related to China * Chinese people, people of Chinese nationality, citizenship, and/or ethnicity **''Zhonghua minzu'', the supra-ethnic concept of the Chinese nation ** L ...

during the reign of

King Dao of Chu King Dao of Chu (, died 381 BC) was the king of the state of Chu from 401 BC to 381 BC during the early Warring States period of ancient China. He was born Xiong Yi () and King Dao was his posthumous title. King Dao succeeded his father King S ...

(reigned 401 – 381 BCE).

List of prime ministers

The first recorded prime minister in Chu's history was Dou Qi of Ruo'ao clan. Qi and Mo'ao(One of the three top chancellors of Chu) Qu Chong together invaded the state of Sui in 690 BCE. The following is a list of prime ministers: * Dou Qi * Peng Zhongshuang, originally from the state of Shen(). * Vacant or unknown 674 BCE-667 BCE * Xiong Shan, son of

. also known by the title plus his courtesy name "Prime Minister Ziyuan"(). * Dou Guwutu, son of Dou Bobi, also known by the title plus his courtesy name "Prime Minister Ziwen"(). * Cheng Decheng, also known by the title plus his courtesy name "Prime Minister Ziyu"(). * Wei Lüchen, also known by the title plus his courtesy name "Prime Minister Zipi"(). * Dou Bo, also known by the title plus his courtesy name "Prime Minister Zishang"(). * Cheng Daxin, son of Cheng Decheng. Also known as Prime Minister Dasunbo(). * Cheng Jia, brother of Daxin. also known by the title plus his courtesy name "Prime Minister Zikong"(). * Dou Yuejiao, nephew of Dou Guwutu. also known by the title plus his courtesy name "Prime Minister Ziyue"(). * Sunshu Ao, son of Wei Jia. * Xiong Yingqi, son of

King Mu of Chu King Mu of Chu (, died 614 BC) was from 625 to 614 BC king of the state of Chu during the Spring and Autumn period of ancient China. He was born Xiong Shangchen () and King Mu was his posthumous title. Prince Shangchen was the son of King Chen ...

. also known by the title plus his courtesy name "Prime Minister Zichong"(). * Xiong Renfu, brother of Yingqi. also known by the title plus his courtesy name "Prime Minister Zixing"(). * Xiong Zhen, son of King Zhuang of Chu. First recorded Shenyin before being promoted to Prime Minister. Also known by the title plus his courtesy name "Prime Minister Zinang"(). * Xiong Wu, brother of Zhen. Also known by the title plus his courtesy name "Prime Minister Zigeng"(). * Xiong Zhuishu, also known by the title plus his courtesy name "Prime Minister Zinan"(). * Wei Zifeng * Qu Jian, also known by the title plus his courtesy name "Prime Minister Zimu" (). * Xiong Wei, prince Wei. Later became

King Ling of Chu King Ling of Chu was king of the State of Chu between 540 and 529 BC. His birth name was Xiong Wei () and before ascending the throne he was known as Prince Wei (). Taking the throne Wei was the second son of King Gong of Chu, younger brothe ...

. * Wei Ba, also known by the title plus his courtesy name "Prime Minister Zidang" (). * Dou Chengran, a descendant of Dou Guwutu. also known by the title plus his courtesy name "Prime Minister Ziqi" (). * Yang Gai, a great grandson of

.also known by the title plus his courtesy name "Prime Minister Zixia" (). * Nang Wa, also known by the title plus his courtesy name "Prime Minister Zichang" (). * Xiong Shen, also known by the title plus his courtesy name "Prime Minister Zixi" (). *

Shen Zhuliang Shen Zhuliang (), Duke of Ye () or Gao, Duke of Ye () (c. 529 BCE – after 478 BCE), was a general and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Chu during the Spring and Autumn period of ancient China. Shen Zhuliang's father, Shen Yin Shu, was a g ...

, also known by the title plus his courtesy name "Prime Minister Zigao" (). * Xiong Ning, son of Shen. Also known by the title plus his courtesy name "Prime Minister Ziguo" (). * Unknown from 475 BCE to 447 BCE. * Jing She, also known by the title plus his courtesy name "Prime Minister Zifa" (). 447 BCE to ? * Unknown Prime Ministers * Zhao Chun, Prime Minister during late 5th century BCE. * Unknown Prime Ministers *

, Prime Minister between 386 BCE and 381 BCE. Originally from Wey. Murdered by Chu aristocrats on the funeral of

. * Zhouhou, Prime Minister during the reign of

King Xuan of Chu King Xuan of Chu (, died 340 BC) was from 369 to 340 BC the king of the state of Chu during the Warring States period of ancient China. He was born Xiong Liangfu () and King Xuan was his posthumous title. King Xuan succeeded his older brother ...

. * Zhao Xixu, Prime Minister during the reign of

. * Xiong Qi, a prince of Chu, also known by the title plus his courtesy name "Prime Minister Zixi"(). * Zhao Yang, Prime Minister during the reign of

King Wei of Chu King Wei of Chu (, died 329 BC) was the king of the state of Chu from 339 to 329 BC, during the Warring States period of ancient China. He was born Xiong Shang () and King Wei was his posthumous title. King Wei succeeded his father King Xuan o ...

. * Prime Minister Zijiao. Name unknown. Prime Minister during the reign of

King Huai of Chu King Huai of Chu (, died 296 BC) was from 328 to 299 BC the king of the state of Chu during the Warring States period of ancient China. He was born Xiong Huai () and King Huai (懷, a different Chinese character) was his posthumous title. Kin ...

. * Zhao Xian * Prime Minister Zilan, son of King Huai of Chu. Name unknown. *

Lord Chunshen Lord Chunshen (; died 238 BC), born Huang Xie (),was a Chinese military general and politician. He served as the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Chu during the late Warring States period of ancient China. He was one of the Four Lords of the Wa ...

, Given name Huang Xie. Prime Minister during the reign of

King Kaolie of Chu King Kaolie of Chu (, died 238 BC) was the king of the state of Chu from 262 BC to 238 BC during the late Warring States period of ancient China. He was born Xiong Yuan () or Xiong Wan (), and King Kaolie was his posthumous title. King Kaolie ...

References

{{Zhou Dynasty topics Chu (state)