Chu

State	Troops	Forces

Chu
Location Info
Name	Chu
Kanji	楚
Capital	Chin
Location(s)	Southern China

The State of Chu, (楚, Chǔ), or otherwise called the "Superstate of Chu", is the largest single Warring state and is located in the southern border of China. It is considered a superstate as its capable of wiping a state off the map if they so choose too. Because of that, other states typcially prefer to avoid conflict with the state of Chu.

Geography

The entirety of Chu encompasses a large landmass that borders Qin, Zhao, Han, Wei, and Qi. The Yangtze River flows through the country. It is known to be a superpower and its size is equal to that of the other six states combined. Despite this, they are wary of who they attack as they share borders with 5 different states and could be invaded by any if they strike at one.

History

At one point, Chu only had half its territory while Qi had the other half. But due to a joint coalition of the states, Qi lost all their possessions in the south which Chu absorbed into their kingdom. They have a strong military and normally the other states are wary of starting a war with them.

Once, years ago, one of Qin's Six Great Generals Ou Kotsu tried to conquer some of Chu's territories to which the Great General "Tiger of Chu" Kou En sent an army, led by a younger Kan Mei in his younger days, to meet the aggressors. Surprisingly, Kan Mei managed to wound Ou Kotsu with a single cut of his sword and forces him to retreat back to his homeland ashamed of his defeat. That failed invasion attempt at Chu's lands was swiftly covered by Qin. However, there were opposing rumors that Kan Mei was the one that had been defeated and covered up by Chu. The land south of Chu is inhabited by the people of Baiyue and this wild frontier could be seen as a training ground for Chu Generals as was seen for Rin Bu Kun.

Culture

Pride in Superiority and Scale

Chu’s people and military alike take immense pride in their kingdom’s size and power. As the largest of the Warring States, Chu regards itself as the natural hegemon, not only in military might but also in civilization and prestige. The title of “superstate” is repeated with near-religious conviction by its generals and soldiers, functioning as both a political claim and a cultural identity.

This pride manifests as open arrogance toward all other states. Chu views all the other states as inferior. Its generals have been seen dismissing them as “puny” and “feeble,” and even Qin, despite its growing dominance, is derided as a nation of “mountain monkeys,” a phrase reflecting Chu’s disdain for the rough, frontier-born culture of its western rival. To the Chu, power and refinement are inseparable, and the mere scale of their army and population is seen as proof of inherent superiority.

This belief in their own exceptionalism shapes Chu’s collective mentality: to be from Chu is to belong to the greatest of all realms. Their pride is not defensive or symbolic, it is loud, aggressive, and constantly expressed, forming a core part of both their martial and social behavior.

Loudness, performance, and battlefield culture

Chu’s military culture is the most flamboyant and performative in the Warring States. Its generals are not only tacticians but also showmen, often delivering grandiose speeches or chants before engaging in combat. These displays are designed to intimidate enemies and exalt the state’s reputation.

General Rin Bu Kun hyping its army before battle

Scenes such as the one where the Chu army roars, “Who are the men that cause the earth to quake? The Chu Army!” perfectly encapsulate this attitude. The Chu military sees itself not merely as an armed force, but as a living symbol of the kingdom’s greatness. Theatrical displays of unity and power serve both as morale-building rituals and as political statements, reminders to friend and foe alike that Chu remains the mightiest of all states.

This culture of collective performance also reflects the Chu people’s emphasis on image and reputation. Victory is not only about strategy or conquest; it is about how the victory is achieved and perceived. Their generals often announce their attacks loudly and publicly, using ceremony and spectacle to affirm their superiority. Even in defeat, Chu soldiers and officers display defiant pride, ensuring that their image of dominance endures regardless of outcome.

Arrogance and hierarchical worldview

Chu’s political and cultural identity is structured around an implicit hierarchy where Chu stands at the top and all other states are subordinate. This worldview is expressed through both language and behavior. Chu citizens and officials treat foreigners with condescension, seeing them as weak and insignificant.

This arrogance is not confined to individuals but extends to state policy and military behavior. Chu operates under the assumption that its size alone legitimizes its rule and ambitions. This mentality often leads to overconfidence on the battlefield, with generals underestimating opponents due to their belief in the inherent superiority of Chu forces. Such confidence, while inspiring for Chu troops, has also resulted in costly miscalculations. Yet even after setbacks, Chu rarely questions its fundamental sense of supremacy.

Within the state, hierarchy is reinforced by constant references to Chu’s exceptional status. The royal court, the generals, and even the common soldiers share a collective conviction that they are members of a civilization apart from and above the rest of the Warring States.

Reputation and the cult of image

Reputation occupies a central place in Chu’s cultural psychology. More than any other state, Chu’s elite and military are deeply concerned with how they are perceived by others. Public displays of strength, confidence, and grandeur are seen as essential to maintaining the state’s honor.

A Chu general’s battlefield conduct is often designed with reputation in mind: roaring declarations, exaggerated confidence, and loud proclamations of Chu’s might serve to reinforce both internal morale and external awe. Even their interactions with enemy commanders emphasize this, Chu’s officers rarely show deference, preferring to assert dominance through mockery or bravado.

This obsession with prestige extends to the kingdom’s diplomacy and warfare alike. Chu’s strategy often aims to reaffirm its reputation as the greatest state rather than to achieve purely pragmatic objectives. The state’s culture of pride thus functions both as motivation and as a constraint, it strengthens unity and morale but makes humility or caution culturally unacceptable.

Craftsmanship and metallurgy

Beyond its martial spectacle, Chu is also renowned for its advanced metallurgy and weapon craftsmanship. The state’s large population and resource-rich territory enable the mass production of high-quality arms and armor. Chu’s blacksmiths and artisans are recognized across the continent for their skill in forging durable weapons and ornate military equipment.

This expertise in metallurgy supports Chu’s self-image as a nation of power and excellence. Superior weapons are not merely practical tools but symbols of prestige, material proof of Chu’s cultural and technological superiority. The state’s distinctive blades, spears, and armor designs are often used to demonstrate craftsmanship and wealth, reinforcing the idea that Chu’s martial dominance is as much a product of artistry as of manpower.

The former Royal Capital Chin of Chu

Government

The state is a monarchy and was ruled by 23rd king Kou Retsu, with Shun Shin Kun as the prime minister. Together they ruled Chu with an Iron fist for decades. After the death of those two important political figures, the Prime Ministers became Ri En and Ka Rin, under the "Double Prime Minister System". This system stabilized the government within a month.

Royal Family

Unknown
24th King of Chu
Eldest Adopted son of Kou Retsu

Kou Retsu † - 23rd King of Chu
Passed Away due to illness.

Ri En's Sister
Mother of the 24th king
Kou Retsu's Concubine
Shun Shin Kun's Concubine

Ri En
Older Brother to the mother of 24th King
Uncle to 24th king.

Prime Ministers

Ri En
Prime Minister of Chu

Ka Rin
Prime Minister of Chu
Second-in-command of Chu Military
Leader of Ka Rin Army

Shun Shin Kun †
Prime Minister of Chu
Four Lords of the Warring States
Assassinated by Ri En

Officials

Bam Yu
Ka Rin Army

Ko Reki
Court Official
Minister of Ai

Hoku Ryou
Court Official
Sent to Rou Ai to inform him the King of Chu recognizes him as a king.

Hou Chiku

Citizens

Haku Sui
Older Sister of Haku Rei
Widow of Rin Bu Kun

Baku Ya
Creator of the Bakuya Sword

Kan Shou †
Creator of the Bakuya Sword

Navigation

Characters

Chu Royal Family Kou Retsu † Shun Shin Kun Prime Minister Shun Shin Kun † • Ri En • Ka Rin • Officials Ri En • Ko Reki • Hoku Ryou • Bam Yu • Hou Chiku • City Lords TBA Citizens Haku Sui Military Great Generals Ka Rin • Kou En • Kan Mei † • Generals Kou Yoku • Haku Rei • Bei Man • Gou Ma Sho • Rin Bu Kun † Strategists Jin Ou • Bei Man • Gou Ma Sho • Commanders Bam Yu • Ka En • Gou Toku • Shin Ka • Kai Hou • Goku • Ro Kin • Koku Shi • Kyou Bou Soldiers TBA Affiliates Ren Pa • Ren Pa Army (Kai Shi Bou • Kyou En •) • Man'U • Sen To'Un • Gen'U • Ju Ko'Ou • Man'U Army (Sen To'Un Army • Gen'U Army) Han Royal Family Ou Ou ‡ • Ou An • Nei • Kan Pishi † Prime Minister Chou Officials Kan Pishi † • Jou Sei • Ka Jyuu • Taiza • Ryuu Kaku • Sai En • Kan Bu • Rohaku Kyou • Kakou Ryuu † City Lords Ryuu'an Citizens On Kei • Sai Hi Military Great Generals Sei Kai † • Raku'A Kan † Generals Haku’ou Koku † • Chou In • Bi Kei † • Hai Don † • Tei Ko Commanders Yoko Yoko • Ba Kan † • Na Kon † • Ki'u Strategists TBA Affiliates Chu • Chu Military (Ka Rin) Espionage Ki Getsu • Mai Fu • Shuu Ho Qi Royal Family Ou Ken Prime Minister TBA Officials Kou Shou City Lords TBA Citizens TBA Military Great Generals Gan Mo • Den Kaku • Generals Kan Shu • Commanders TBA Soldiers TBA Affiliates Sai Taku • Ei Sei • Qin Qin Royal Family Duke Toku † • Boku Kou † • Duke Kai Kou † • King Shou † • Anko Kukun † • Sou Jou † • Queen Mother • Ei Sei • Rei • Fuso • Sei Kyou • Rui • Kaku Kei † Chancellors Shou Bun Kun • Shou Hei Kun • Ryo Fui • Ketsu Shi † • Prime Minister N/A Officials Sai Taku • Ri Shi • Kai Oku • Shi Shi • Tei Koku • Chou Man • Ryuu Kai • Kou Kin • Sa Ji • Fuu Kyou • Royal Harem Kou • You • Fuso's Mother • Bi Kyuu • A Min • Noble Families Three Great Families of Qin • Ou Family • Mou Family • City Lords Duke Hyou • Ou Ki • Tou • Rui's Great Grandmother • Ho Kaku • Koku Gou • Dan Shi • Citizens Ri Hyou † • Tou Bi • Yuu Ri • San Roku • Sen (Jouto Village) • Gan (Jouto Village) • Rin (Jouto Village) • Ri Ten Family (Village Chief (Jouto) • Yuu) • Kou's Mother • Sen (Fuuri) • Taku Kei's Daughter • Taku Kei's Son • Ryuu Sen's Wife • Ryuu Sen's Children • Shou Bun Kun's Family • Kan Shuu • Gou In • Gaku Kou • Sai Kyou • Kou Shun • Gan Chou • Kon • Han • Io • Shio † • Saki Clan • Ri Shi's wife • Military Six Great Generals Mou Bu • Tou • Yo Tan Wa • Kan Ki † • Haku Ki † • Ko Shou † • Kyou † • Ou Ki † • Ou Kotsu † • Shi Ba Saku † • Great Generals Ou Sen • Duke Hyou † • Mou Gou † • Chou Tou † • Generals Ri Shin • Kyou Kai • Ou Hon • Mou Ten • Roku O Mi • Ryuu Koku • Kan Ou • A Kou † • Ma Kou † • Kan Jou • A Ka Kin • Riku Sen • Ai Sen • Den Ri Mi † • Sou'Ou • Heki • Shou Kaku • Kou Ryuu • Rai Do † • Koku'Ou † • Rin Gyoku † • Ba Jin • Do Mon • Koku Shuu Ba • Den Shun • Fuu Han • Sou Ha Kou • Ra Gen • Ei Bi † • En Ka † • Ryuu † • Sei Chou • Na Raku • An Kai • Shin Shou • Ri Ju • Commanders Hyou Shiga • Rin Bou † • Dou Kin † • En • So Sui • Na Ki • Ga Ro • Gaku Rai † • Man Dou • Suu Gen • Den Yuu • Bi Hei • Taku Kei • Chu Tetsu • Den Ei • Ryuu Yuu • Ryuu Sen • Hai Rou • Nan Chin • Son Jin • Koku Kin • Shou Taku • Kyuu Kou † • Ei To • Shi Tou • Shou Sa † • Kyo Gai • Ken Fu • Setsu Kou † • Tai Go • Chuu Ki • Kai • Ro Bin † • Sou Gen • Ro En • Kaku Un † • Duke Da Rin † • Shin Kaku Gaku † • San Shuu • Shu Ma • Zenou • Ogiko • Ma Ron • Han Zen • Chi Shun • Gai Ma • Dan Sa • Kei Kyou • Kaku Bi • Baku Koshin • Jou Han • Tai Un • Kaku Ei • Ei Gan • Gi Kou • Ran Dou • Seki Shou • Koku Shou • Ba'In • Chou • Ben Ro • Strategists Ka Ryo Ten • Mou Ki • Kai Oku • Kou A • Kin Ryuu • Adjutants Ban You • Ko Zen † • Rai Ki • Chou Shi • Shi Ryou • Mon • Mou Chi • Mou Ryuu † • Gaku Ga † • Den Kou • Hi Ri • Gu Nei • Soldiers Kyou Rei • Kei • Kou • Su Jun • Ki Hou • Kan To • Ton Brothers (Ton Koku • Ton Kaku • ) • Sou Tan • Sou Jin • En Kaku • Ri Gi • Do Nan • Juu • Ro Hei • Taku Brothers • Riku • Rin • Shou • San Ta • Gan Jin • Ha'In • Chou Bi • Chou Kei • Affiliates Western Mountain Confederation • Yo Tan Wa Army • Bajio • Tajifu • Shunmen • Kitari • Katari † • Enpo • Danto • Pipo • Ponan • Iarya • Toji and Fuji • Ramauji • Rankai • Seki • Hashuken • Blue Stone Tribe • Wei Royal Family An Ri † • Kei Bin • Prime Minister Gek Ka Kou • Officials Ha Ri • Shin Ryou Kun City Lords Ryuu Tai • Citizens Shi Kika † • Military Great Generals Go Hou Mei • Gai Mou • Fire Dragons of Wei Go Hou Mei • Gai Mou • Go Kei † • Shi Ei † • Rei Ou † • Shou Sen † • Ba Tou † • Tai Ro Ji † Generals Ran Bi Haku • Jun Ei • Ryuu Han • Haku Ki Sai † • Kyuu Gen † • Ba Kai † • Fuu Haku ‡ • Kou † • Ga Gyuu † • Shi Tai † • Commanders Gyo'En • Shuu Kou • En Bi • Ba Shu Ri • Ba Kai † • Tei Bi • Gi Ryou † • Gou Tan † • Kan Toku † • Duke Haku † • Fuu Kan † • Kou Ri Gen † • Dou Sei † • Strategists Jun Sou • Ha Ri • Hyou Ki ‡ • Affiliates Ren Pa • Ren Pa Army • Four Heavenly Kings • Rin Ko † • Gen Pou † • Yan Royal Family Sho † • Ki • En Tan Prime Minister TBA Officials Guo Wei • Zei † Citizens TBA Military Great Generals Ordo • Gaku Ki † • Geki Shin † Generals TBA Commanders Yuki • Otaji • Numeiyu • Kyon • Gyon • Sen Shu Bi Strategists TBA Affiliates Quanrong • Mountain Tribes of Yan Zhao Royal Family Bu Rei † • Tou Jou † • Yuu Boku • Ka • Earl Chou Ki † • Prime Minister Kaku Kai • Ri Boku Officials Hi • Shun Pei Kun • Hei To • Ko Shuu • Jou Kei • Ken Ho • Kan Sou • En Sei † • Royal Harem Kou Hi City Lords Duke Hoku Ryou • Duke Son Fu ‡ • Ki Shou • Gaku'in • Shi Ba Shou • Duke Kuku • Tou Kan • Tou Kin • Citizens Master Hou † • Madame Hou † • Shi Kei † • Shi Ka † • A Mon † • Kou Shou † • Kon † • En Kan • Military Great Generals Gaku Jou ‡ • Ko Chou † • Chou Katsu † • Three Great Heavens Ri Boku • Shi Ba Shou • Hou Ken † • Ren Pa ‡ • Rin Shou Jo † • Chou Sha † • Generals Ki Sui • Ba Tei • Kei Sha † • Kan Saro • Ji Aga † • Gaku Shou • Ba Nan Ji • Shun Sui Ju • Fu Tei • Kotsu Min Haku • En Kan • Ri Haku • Kou Son Ryuu ‡ • Earl Rai • Chou Haku • Mai Kou • Kai Gou • Ryuu Tou † • Gou Ki • Kou Ki Ou • Kou Shi • Shin Sei Jou † • Fuu Ki † • Man Goku † • Chou Sou † • Gaku'Ei † • Chou Ga Ryuu † • Gyou’un † • Kin Mou † • Earl Kou † • Shin Ri Kan † • Zet Su † • Jyou Ka Ryuu † • Ko Haku Kou † • Gaku Haku Kou † • Ryuu Haku Kou † • Ryuu Fu † Commanders Kaine • Ba Fuu Ji • Fuuon • Shi En • Sai'u • Mei Fu • Kou Kaku † • Gou Ran † • Sei Kiga • Ka Hou • Kai Shin • Koku Rai • Koku Rei • Zen Man • Sen Bi • Sei Mei • Seiu • Duke Sei • Ren Ka • Sou Ha • Sei Ka Un • Man Haku • Tou Gan † • Shuu † • Gi Ka † • Sou † • Shuu † • You Ou † • Ba Toku † • Den'I † • Ten † • Rai Ka † • Jo Shou † • Jo Rin † • Shin Riku † • Seki Kou † • Kou Zen † • An Ki † • Chiku Shin † • Ko Getsu † • Ta Getsu † • Ro Shin † • Chou Gaku † • Kou Tou † • Ko Ro † • Sou Kan † • Ka Man † • Kyo Yo † • Chou Riku † • Ki Shou † • Un Kei † • Un Gen † • Gou Za Kou † • Soldiers Haku Sha † • En Shou † • Ban Riku † • Kaku Jou † • Kon Jin † • Den Ko • Den Pou † • Hei Shuu † • Haku Ya • Kou Shuu • Gi Ta • Ga Kou • Kei Fu • Kat Sho • Affiliates Quanrong of Ryouyou (Rozo † • Goba † • Bunen † • Tork † ) • Geeli † • Bolf • Chida † • Tehgo • Nujah • Wan • Geni •