China the Beautiful

[tuan]

Dear Friends,

China's culture and tradition are the most original, the best and meaningful. Thank God they survive and develop until today.

But about the name of China, it was known as God's land or sheng zhou and then China or zhong hua or zhong guo. I just wonder anyone has the record of the name that changed from one to another used in the present day.

To know this is very important. This will tell us where we come from and who were the ancestors of the Chinese race, "wan wu zhi ling'

If you know pleae help me with the information.

Thank you.

tuan

[michiru]

[chinapage]

Dear Tuan:

The proper word for 'China' is Zhong Guo; the term for
'Chinese' is Zhong Guo Ren.

If you meet someone on the street (or the office) of Shanghai
or Beijing, and he asks you a simple question,
"I am Chinese. Are you Chinese?" How do you think he
would say it in Chinese?

I put up a web page for you at
http://www.chinapage.com/history/china.html
http://www.chinapage.com/history/china.pdf

where you will find some detailed discussion about the history
of the term Zhong Guo

Ming

[tuan]

I have searched all possible internet sites to find out how China was named this way.

It is a surprise to me just recently to have this idea in figuring out whether the following may be the history for China to get this name.

Chin Dynasty was famous after it assumed control of the whole of China. We know of Chintze Hwangdi. He was known for the building of the great wall. Because of Chintze Hwangdi's tyranic rule and his fame, the whole world knew about this Kingdom under Chin. It is not difficult to agree that Chin was being referred as his kingdom. Further, perhaps, the foreigners might be referring him as grandpa or ya or a, so the name got stuck into Chin-a. That is China. It is also an amazement to note that some even say that this kingdom was mentioned as Chin in the Bible.

Your comments please.

Thanks

tuan.

[chinapage]

Dear Tuan:

I am happy to see your interest in the history of China. But I
must warn you not to make up any "theory" about any particular
historical facts. Hisotorians devote a great deal of time and
effort to provide us with the facts. Don't rewrite history by your
fancy!

As for the origin of the word "china", please take a look as a start
the following:

http://www.chinapage.com/history/china.html

After reviewing this, then see if you can dig up more facts for us.

Regards,
Ming

p.s.: I assume that you are not talking about the romanization of
this term in English, French, German, etc., which is another can of
worms.

[tuan]

Many thanks. I have checked into the site recommended.

I read your words and also the advice posted. We live or pass through this world but once. I am sure during the course of our life, if something more factual and true is found won't you want it to be told.

Recently, I was persuaded to read the book 1451, the year Columbus found the new continent. He was acclaimed to be the first. But this book said otherwise from much of evidences uncovered. It found that perhaps the Chinese were the first to have landed there afterall. The book suggested that history would have to be rewritten.

Well, I digged into the small book I have '中國神話傳說詞典'. There is a record of part of China regarded as Shen Zhou. I think that is a place in China which is still called Shen Zhou. I came across some remarks that shen zhou is a term used often by poets.

Can this China Beautiful be a forum for discussion to delve into the past, the true past, which you said should not be suppressed.

I wish China will always remain great and beautiful for the past glory and fame and also our character of tolerance and modest and kind as taught by our great Tao master.

God bless China.

Pai

[chinapage]

Dear Pai:

I do not discourage you from exploring. I only suggest that take some
time to at least browse, however briefly, the written history first.

May I suggest that you go to

http://www.chinapage.com/big5/big5-history.html

From this web page as the starting point, click on the various history books.
When you are in each history book, scroll up and down just to get a rough idea how many thousands and thousands of written histories there are!!!!

I am upset only because people do not realize that there are just as detailed history of China as that of the U.S for the past 400 years, say.

PRC goes back 60 years. Republic of China goes back merely 90 years.
Before that was Qing Dynasty which goes back 400 years. As a start, read a bit about the written history of the Qing Dynasty - say the wars between China and Korea. The history is right here at this web site.

No Pai, I do not want to stop discussions at all. I only wish everyone to know about the history, and not just a few bits and pieces of myths or historical novels.

Ming

[tuan]

I must admit I don't read much about history. I merely scored an A1 for my Cambridge school examination which covered only most of the western history and civilisation. A bit only of China.

I appreciate your encouragement that I take up some of it on Qing Dynasty and Korean Wars. But I must confess, I am very thankful to God that Dr Sun and his compatriots had succeeded in overthrowing the Qing Dynasty. In other word, I am most unhappy of Qing. Maybe, the glory of 3 kingdoms and Han, some Song and also Ming including 武俠小說 have interested less of or affected my like for Qing Dynasty. In fact I was full of anger to read about how China was carved out to foreigners bit by bit by the government of Qing Dynasty.

Anyway, China turns for the better. I was quite zealous for the ideology of Communist at my young age. But I was not very supportive later of its practices somehow some years ago. I do feel Communist rule now is needed for China after all. I hope lot of progress will take place in the future under the new form of communism.

This may be that all forms of assumed Capitalists are gone. No more such issue for anyone to flare up like the Red Army in the Cultural Revolution. That is to tell you how unclear I am with the benefits of all other dynasties contributing to China until Communism. There is now hope for China.

However, it may not be too late to catch up with history some 400 years ago but I also feel it necessary to go back to know our root or our genesis of culture and tradition. China is now free for all these investigations. And so, I was enthralled by the Chinese characters and notice quite a lot of professors, lecturers in the universities especially in the PRC controlled China even foreigners have produced books in interpreting the ancient Chinese characters. Their books circulated worldwide. They all are now engaged in investigating our root from such characters to uncover the mysteries and the truth of China behind or depicted in those words. Perhaps your website can make a inroad into this area so that more truths can be uncovered.

I have also made use of the link site currently available for such ancient Chinese characters and have observed many of them appeared to be quite authentic interpretation, for example the word/character ‘shen 神’.

Thank you again for your warning and encouragement that I read up some historical facts before advancing any theories. But the ancient writing is so old and I just have to refer to Britannica Encyclopedia for some materials. Do you think this is okay?

I would say, it is my very hope that China Beautiful or 錦繡中華 will play a bold, daring, wise, and effective role to uphold and also enhance the knowledge of the past glory of China as well as what is happening currently so that Chinese can stand tall ‘again’ to contribute peace, harmony and prosperity for all the people of the world.

tuan

[Chinghiz]

[ahcity]

I can't help it. May I add that China history rewrite all the time when ever the leader of the country is in power - meaning every chairman in house get to change the history to the way he want to see/leave. when you in power. you can rewrite anything.
something never change - that is power, money and control....
_________________
Honesty pays, but it doesn't seem to pay enough to suit some people.

www.ahcityguide.com

[sllee]

Chinghiz

The term "Zhong Guo" has been used for ages before Zho Hua Min Guo came along. Use this term and do a search in the 24 official history。

In case of doubt, do some search on the internet to find out more before posting. Exposing ignorance is something. Others who want to learn might be misled.
_________________
SL Lee
http://www.asiawind.com