New-York tribune., 1900-07-15
CHINESE NAMES FOR CHINA
a LONG LIST OF WORDS OF GREAT AN

70 lNtlT country, the natlOn ana III IlVIQudiS are
extremely curious and interesting The West
ern custom of giving two names only
shows, to the Celestial way of thinking, a griev-
GUS lack Of imagination The Chnaman has
long list of words to denote his country, and
goes 50 far as to make new one for every
dynasty. The word China is used by
them. Its origin is not quite certain but it
may be assumed that it dates from the time
(about 21o T. O. when the family of Tsin
into power. Their province was the one most
frequently visited by strangers, and, since it was
called by the name of the regning family, it
is a plausible supposition that the word Tsin or
Chin came to be used by neighbors to denote
he whole empire. The Chinese themselves have
many names for their country. Tin Chow"
which is translated into The Celestial Empire"
is a poetic and uncommon title "Tien- Hia" is
an old term. and means Beneath the Sky" i e.
the whole world. a similar name is 81 Hal"
= e. All Within the Four Seas" But by far
the most common designation is Chung Kwoh"
the Middle Kingdom" This name dates in all
probability from 100 b. c.. or earlier The Sc
cret of its popularity is not far to seek Origin
ally the term was used to denote the province
of Honan which is well in the centre of China
Then the family regning in that province
Increased in power they gave the old name to
the whole country. 1t became popular because
even more than the ancient Greeks and RO-
mans, the Chinese despise the outside world. The
Middle Kingdom meant the centre of the earth:
ard it may be added in proof of this feeling that
even now maps may be found in China which
maze the Celestial Empire occupy almost the
whole Of the globe. with little dots for Eng
land Germany and America. "Cathay' is a
Persian name for China, and is comparatively
modern. 1t is derived from Kitah or kitan who
ruled the north Of the empire in the tenth cen
tGTy A. ID. It is interesting to note that the
Russians still call China Khtai
me term Chung Kwoh jim" meaning MEN
OF the Middle Kingdom" is used Frequently TO
denote the Chinese themselves 1t was cus
''Hlary' however TO call the people after the
name OF the reigning dynasty The title Han
IN ana Han-tse' C'Men Of Han" or Sons Of
man } Is another common name. 1t has Iatterly
been adopted by a famous-or rather Infamous
secret society, the object of which is to restore
the ancient dynasty. The latter Of tbes, two
teEms carries With it the idea OF courage and is
proporI"natey esteemed. "Tang-jin." or sons
oI rang one Of the most celebrated of tho i'm
PeFIai houses Of China. Is also common The
present ISing dynasty has never been able 10
impose its name on the people-a sign of tb,. /
enduring hatred Of the nation for their ,rart,r
c"hquer"rS. Ia Using Kdoh" or .C;rrat pur,.
hlhSd'm is used officially to DESIGNATE the
country, but is never hyphcnatcd with tb. s,if
iiX jim to denote the people Th, Chinese ais,
can themselves the Hlack-haired Race" and
The more educated insist on the term Men If
'he Middle Flowery Kingdom" the word FIo,y
cry den ting polish in speech ana manner
throughout life names play an inpnrtant
part IN thinamans life At the age Of or,
month ne receives his first. or milk" name.
"heh n" goes to school he gets hi. book"
HdiIl". Al marriage his great" name comes In
"liH II ne enters official life he finds himself
possessed Of an official" name After death j.,
'he sol emnity Of the Han Of Ancestors ne has
at Iast his permanent" name Besides tbos.
ne mas ms uncnangng family name. and an
otheF' or tong name, if he comes Of good fam,
ny IhIs last is like the name of the gems in ola
rome It denotes the family in general while
MS surname tells his particular branch of il
me Chinese have four words for .citv., and
with these designations they atternpt to max.
pam ihe Importance of the lace. To a certain
extent this is accomplished. but the word also .
lH"lcaleS the Importance of the province or dis
uIct IN which the city is situated Each III
vision OF a province has city of the same name
foo' lIhg, Chow" ana "IIien" form a de-
scehdihs scale indicating il towns Cand by in
ference PROVINCES Importance A Foo is
Tuied over by an official responsible directly to
tHe headS of the provincial government; a
ing and a Chow" are either cities of de-
paftments included in Foo" or of smaller in
dependent provinces. "Ien" is aIyyays a
city OF a dependent province. a table of Chi