Real China 5

China as a Middle Kingdom

Have you ever wondered why China is often called the Middle Kingdom?

Despite that the Middle Kingdom is a direct translation of the country’s name from the Chinese language, the explanation is much more complex. China is called 中国（pronunciation: zhong1guo2). The first character is translated as the center, and the second: country, state, or nation.

The name was first used around 1000 BC. Back then, this term referred to the localization in the central part of the Yellow River valley. Chinese civilization developed in isolation. Due to their geographic location and mountainous terrain, they had no direct contact with Western countries. It has contributed to the formation of a particularly introverted approach within China. The name was to unite the population in such a vast country.

What distinguishes China is its population of over a billion, the cohesion and obedience of the nation, extraordinary intellectual predispositions, and the pace of civilization development. As a result, China has been building its impression as a self-sufficient country over the years. Confucianism and cultural richness shaped the thinking about the superiority of Chinese culture over others. It was also believed that the Middle Kingdom is located in the focal point of the world.

Through its name, the Chinese wanted to emphasize their domination and national power. ‘Middle Kingdom’ was supposed to evoke pride in the unification of the population and the independence of the country, which plays a crucial role on the world map.