It existed from 907 to 937 with capital at Jiangdu Municipality (江都; modern-day Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province).

The founder of Wu, Yang Xingmi, started his career as a volunteer soldier before seizing power in his home prefecture Luzhou in a military coup.

With Luzhou as his base, Xingmi increased his power by seizing neighbouring prefectures until he could recapture Yangzhou in 892.

Yang Xingmi clashed with Zhu Wen of Later Liang in the north and Qian Liu of Wuyue in the south, successfully defending his territory.

However, before he could pull himself free, Yang Wo was assassinated by Xu Wen and his colleague Zhang Hao in 908.

Xu Wen installed Yang Wo's younger brother Longyan and had Zhang Hao killed.

Longyan died of illness in 922 and was succeeded by his brother, Xingmi's fourth son, Yang Pu.

He came to power in Wu after his stepfather's death in 927 and continued to rule the state as governor of Jinling for some time.