Note 4 — LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE INDIA COUNCIL

It is clear that the name China (which the French and Italians pronounce Cina) is not the original name of that kingdom, but is one imposed upon it by the foreigners who went thither to trade and barter; it was adopted by the Portuguese, and afterward by our people of the Philippines. Father Julio Aleni, a Jesuit, in a book written in the Chinese language says, in discussing this point: “China, according to foreigners, signifies ‘the country or kingdom of silk;’ and, since there is so great abundance of that commodity therein, those who sailed thither to buy it would say, ‘Let us go to the country of silk,’ or ‘to China,’ which means the same. The like statement was made to me by Don Fray Gregorio Lopez, bishop of Basilea, in whose charge is now the church of China, a religious of ours, and a native of that empire. To this opinion also incline Trigautius and Kircher.” The most common and ordinary name which those people give to their empire, not only in books but in conversation, is Chung Kue, that is, “the kingdom in the middle.” In former times they gave this name to the province of Hò Nan, which lies almost in the middle and heart of that empire; from that region it was afterward applied to that entire country. Others say that the Chinese regarded their kingdom as being in the middle of the world, through their ignorance of the many kingdoms that the world contains. For that reason they also call it Tien Hia, that is, “the world,” or, “the largest or principal part of the world.” Another name they very commonly give to it, calling it Hoa Kue, or Chung Hoa, which means “flowery kingdom,” or “garden, forest, and pleasant place of the middle of the world.” In the time of the emperor Xun this name was much used, and it is still used in literature. It is a very suitable name for that empire, for in truth it is throughout a beautiful garden and a peaceful and pleasant forest. (Domingo F. Navarrete’s Tratados historicos, pp. 1, 2.) ↑