Chǔ guó (the ancient State of Chu) was one of the major feudal states during China’s Zhou Dynasty (c. 1046–256 BCE), located in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River—covering parts of modern Hubei, Hunan, and surrounding provinces. The character 楚 originally meant 'clear' or 'distinct', but as a proper noun it came to denote this powerful southern state known for its unique culture, shamanistic traditions, and literary legacy, including the Chu Ci (Songs of Chu).

The character 国 means 'state' or 'kingdom', so 楚国 literally combines a place name with the concept of a sovereign polity. It is used exclusively in historical contexts—not for modern geography—and appears frequently in classical texts, history lessons, and discussions of pre-imperial Chinese civilization. Unlike generic terms like 国家 (country), 楚国 always refers specifically to this vanished ancient entity.