A Summary of China's Brief Introduction in Ancient Books

The word "China" first appeared in the Book of Songs of the Zhou Dynasty, such as "elegance for the people" and "benefit for the country". However, the China in The Book of Songs is actually a country, not a real country. The word "China", referring to the country, has been very common in the books of the warring States philosophers. For example, Mencius Teng Wengong said: "Chen Liang's foundation, Zhou Zhongni's way of pleasing the public, learning from China's way in the north", "The way of animal hoof and bird trail, handed over to China"; Tian Zifang in Zhuangzi: "China's gentleman knows propriety and righteousness, but knows the inferiority of people's hearts" ... All these show that the so-called "China" in ancient times refers to the "Central Plains" of later generations. However, the area is not as wide as that of the Central Plains in later generations, only equivalent to most of Shaanxi, southwestern Shanxi and northwestern Henan. The word "China" is frequently used, mainly after the week. There is a cloud in the Book of Rites: "China is a barbarian, and the people of all five parties have sex ... China, barbarians, barbarians, barbarians, barbarians, Rong and Di all have peace." Obviously, the word "China" at this time is used to oppose barbarians, barbarians, Rong and De. If the Book of Rites was written later, Zuo Zhuan's Thirty-one Years of Zhuang Gong said, "All governors who have made four contributions to foreigners should be dedicated to the king, and the king should take this as a warning to foreigners. China is not ",which shows that in the early Spring and Autumn Period, the word" China "has been compared with barbarians, barbarians, Rong and Di. So who is "China"? "The Legend of the Ram for Four Years" said: "Nanyi makes friends with the Northern Emperor, and China is endless. Huan Gong saved China, but he was busy dealing with barbarians, killed Jing and made him king. Qi Huangong's aid to Guo Xing, Guo Wei and other countries is called "saving China", which shows that "China" at this time has expanded to countries considered as "summer". " Fifteen years after the ram was introduced into the public, there are: Spring and Autumn Period, the country is in the summer outside, and the summer inside is in the summer outside. The king wants to be in the world, and it is easy to say a word. He Xiu, a master of Confucian classics in the Eastern Han Dynasty, further developed the theory of Yang Gong School and idealized the 242-year history recorded in Chunqiu into three stages. Namely: "The world heard", "The world heard" and "The world saw". It is said that the rule of the world began with decline and chaos ... so the country is at home and summer is outside. ""It is said that the rule of the world is rising, summer is inside, and the emperor is outside. ""Seeing that the world is at peace, the emperor is promoted, and the world is far and near. Although the historical development of 242 years is not so idealized, we must admit that this concept has made some correct understanding and foresight on the development law of ethnic relations. Xia and Shang Dynasties should be the formation period of the Chinese nation; The formation of "Zhou Li" combining China's institutional culture and spiritual culture is the symbol of the final formation of the Chinese nation. Throughout the Xia, Shang, Zhou, Spring and Autumn Period, countries were constantly divided, some entered Huaxia Group, and some entered Manchu, Yi and Rong Groups. A country like Guo, once vacillating between Yi and Xia, finally entered Huaxia Group and became a part of "Zhu Xia".