Category: History

If you said the word “China” to a Chinese speaking person who did not speak English, he would have no idea what you were saying. To the Chinese, China has always been 中國（Zhong Guo) – the “Middle Kingdom”.

I grew up learning that the word China was derived from the Qin (pronounced ‘Chin’) Dynasty, the first imperial dynasty of China (221-207 B.C.E.) Many scholars believe the word China to have Sanskrit origins which predate the Qin Dynasty.

The official name of China is the People’s Republic of China (中华人民共和国) Zhōnghuá Rénmín Gònghéguó.

Taiwan also continues to lay claim to the title, the Republic of China (中華民國) Zhōnghuá Mínguó).

Chinese Odyssey 4

To a nine year old kid

it all seemed like a riddle

Going up to go down

You’d end up in the middle.

Yet I knew what it meant

much clearer than clear

“around” meant the Earth

the ultimate sphere