Etymological Examination of “China” and “Cathay”

I. The Origin of “China”

1.1 Earliest Records and Evolution

The origin of the term “China” can be traced back to the Qin Dynasty in ancient times. According to Liu Zhenqing’s research, “China” originates from the state of Qin during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, not from the Qin Dynasty established by Emperor Qin Shi Huang. Despite the short existence of the Qin Dynasty, the name “Qin” has become synonymous with “China”. Moreover, scholars believe that “China” is a phonetic translation of “Qin”, which evolved through various languages to form today’s “China”. Specifically:

Arabic: It became “Sin”.

Greek: It became “Tzinistan”.

Sanskrit: It became “Cina” and “Chinasthana”.

Persian: It formed “Machin” and “Mahachinasthana”.

English: It was borrowed from Sanskrit terms “Cina” and “Chinasthana”, around the 16th century.

1.2 Records in Literature

In ancient texts, there are abundant records about “China”. For example, Leo Ou-fan Lee mentioned that the term “Sinology” originated from the Latin and Greek word “Sinae”, another ancient Western name for China. In Chinese and Western classics, variants of Cina (such as Thin, Thinae, Chin, Sina, Sinae, Cini, Cyn, Cynstn, Tzinitza, Tzinista, Mahachinasthana) were clearly used as designations for ancient China.

II. The Origin of “Cathay”

2.1 Earliest Records and Evolution

The origin of “Cathay” is closely related to the Khitan people who established the Liao Dynasty. According to Liu Zhenqing’s research, “Cathay” originates from the 10th to 13th centuries’ Khitan Kingdom, known as “Khyattan” (both Liao and Western Liao). Specifically:

Turkic: Khyattan entered Turkic as “Khitay”.

Arabic: Through Arabic “Khyattan” it entered Latin as “Cathaya”.

English: It ultimately came into English as “Cathay”.

2.2 Records in Literature

Historical texts contain numerous records about “Cathay”. For instance, Matteo Ricci made significant contributions to the study of Sino-Western communication history, one of which was identifying “Cathay” as China (“China”). Additionally, American Imagist poet Ezra Pound named his collection of poems inspired by classical Chinese poetry “Cathay”, further illustrating the significance of “Cathay” in Chinese culture.

Summary Table

Term Origin Linguistic Evolution Earliest Record Notes

China State of Qin Arabic: Sin

Greek: Tzinistan

Sanskrit: Cina, Chinasthana

Persian: Machin, Mahachinasthana

English: China 16th century “Qin” became synonymous with “China”

Cathay Khitan Kingdom Turkic: Khitay

Arabic: Khyattan

Latin: Cathaya

English: Cathay 10th to 13th centuries Originated from the Khitan Kingdom “Khyattan”