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State of Chen)
Chen (陳) was a minor state of the Spring and Autumn Period in Ancient China. It was a relatively minor state based on a single urban centre near what is now Huaiyang in the plains of eastern Henan province. In its time Chen lay in the southern part of Chinese civilisation, bordering the semi-barbarous state of Chu.
The royal family of Chen claimed descent from Emperor Shun. According to tradition, after the conquest of the Shang Dynasty around 1046 BC, King Wu of Zhou sought out the potter Gui Man (媯滿), a descendent of Shun, and gave him the feoff of Chen.
Chen later became a satellite state of Chu, fighting as an ally of Chu at the Battle of Chengpu. It was finally annexed by Chu 479 BC. After the destruction of the old Chu capital at Ying, Chen became the Chu capital for a period.
