Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-07-23

CHINA A LAND
or MANY NAMES.
The many various names given by the
chinese to their country, the nation and
indiVidual are extremely curious and
interesting, says a writer in the New
york Tribune. The western custom of
giving one or two names only shows,
to the Celestial way of thinking. a griev.
Gus lack of imagination. The Chinaman
mas a long list of words to denote his
country. and goes SO far as to make a
new 2 for every new dynasty. The
Word CHINA Is never used by them. Its
origin is not quite certain, but it may
pc assumed that it dates from the tine
labout ESQ B. Co. when the family of
ism rose into power. Their province
was the n most frequently visited by
strangers, and. since 1t was called by
plausible suppositton that the word Tsin
or Chin came to be used by n%eighbors
70 denote the whole empire. The Chinese
themselves have nan names for their
country. "Tin-Chow," which is trans
lated 'The Celestial Empire" is a poetic
and uncommon title. "Men-Hia' is an
old term and means Beneath the Sky
]. e., the whole world. A similar name is
- Hal" !. e, 'All Within the Four
seas hut by far the most common
Middle Kingdom This name dates, in
al probability. from 100 B. O., or earlier.
The secret of it's popularity is not far
70 seek. Originally the term was used
70 denote the province Of Honan, which
IS Well in the enter Of China. Then as
the family reigning in that province in
creased n power they gave the old name
to the whole country. 1t became popular
because. even more than the ancient
Greeks and Romans, the Chinese despise
the outside world. The Middle Kingdom
meant the center Of the earth: and it
may added that in proof Of tnis feeling
even now maps may be found in
China which make the Celestial empire
occupy almost the whole Of the globe,
with little dots for ENGLAND Germany
name for China and is comparatively
modern. 1t is derived from Kitah or XII
tan. who ruled the north of the empire
in the tenth century A. D.. 1t is inter-
esting to note that the Russians still
The term "Chung kwoh Jin," mean
ing Men Of the Middle Kingdom" is
used frequently to denote the Chinese
themselves. It was customary, however,
reigning dynasty. The title 'Hanjin"
and "Han-tse" omen of Han or Sons
Of Han') is another common name. 1t
has latterly been adopted by a famous
or rather Infamous secret society, the
object of which is to restre the ancient
dynasty. The latter of these two terms
carries with 1t the idea of courage. and
Is proportionately esteemed. Tang
jim or Sons of Tang one of the most
celebrated of the imperial houses of Chi
ma is also common. The Resent Tsin
dynasty has never ben able to impose
its name on the people-a sign of the en-
during hatred of the nation for their
Tartar ~conquerors. TIA Tsin Kdoh," or
"Great Pure Kingdom" is used officially
to designate the country, but is never
note the people. The Chinese also call
themselves THE Black-Haired Race"
and the more educated insist on the
term Men of the Middle Flowery King
dom,' the word f1oWery denoting polish
in speech and manner. ~.
Throughout, the names play an i'm
portant part in a Chinaman's life. At
the age of one month he receives his
first. or milk NAME. When he goes to
school he gets his "book" name. At
If he enters official life he finds himself
possessed of an official name. After
death. in the solemnity of the Hall of
Ancestors he has at last his "perma-
nent" name. Beside these, he has his
u~nchanging family anne, and another.
u IoA6 AAAl ~ AK JAW vi " OWN
family. This last is like the name of
gems in old Rome. It denotes the family
in general, while his urname tells his
particular branch of it.
The Chinese have four words for "city"
and with these designations they attempt
to make plain the importance of the
place. To a certain extent this is accom-
plished, but the word also indicates the
Importance of the province or district
in which the city Is situated. Each di-
vision of a province has a city of the
! same name. "Foo," "Ting," Chow" and
"Hien'' form a descending scale, indicat-
ing a towns (and by inference a prov
ince's) importance. A 1"Foo" is ruled
over by an official responsible directly
to the heads of the provincial govern
ment; a "Ting'' and "Chow' are either
cities of departments included In a Foo"
or of smaller Independent provinces.
"Hien" is always a city of a dependent
province. A table of Chinese words APP
pearing, or likely to appear, il news
dispatches, follows:
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..
Tsin-prince.
Tsin Wang-"Kindred PRINCE" /. e.,
prince of the blood.
Tsung - Clan, family sometimes
board). -
Nui Ko-Privy council.
Tsungtuh-Viceroy, or ruler of more
than one province
Footai-Governor Cot a p%rovince).
Tituh-Major general; CHIEF military
officer of a province.
Taotal-Governor of a city.
Shan-Tung-Province east of the