China

The People's Republic of China (Zhōnghuá Rénmín Gònghéguó) since 1949. Previously the Republic of China (1912) and the Chinese Empire (221 bc); this was ruled by various dynasties: the Qing (Manchu) (1644–1911), the Ming (1368–1644), the Yuan (Mongol) (1260–1368), and so on. Zhōngguó means 'Middle Kingdom' from zhōng 'middle' and wángguó 'kingdom' and refers to historical China, in particular the eighteen inner provinces — the centre of the known world; it was first used as the formal term for China at the Treaty of Nerchinsk in 1689. Zhōnghuá is the contraction of two terms which together mean the 'Huaxia (Han or Chinese) people of the Central Plain', Rénmín 'People's', and Gònghéguó 'Republic'. The conventional English name 'China' is derived from Qin (in Pinyin pronounced 'cheen'), a state which emerged supreme at the end of the Warring States Period (475–221 bc). Although only lasting until 206 bc, China was united for the first time and a Chinese identity created. The Qin ruler assumed the new title of emperor, calling himself Qin Shihuangdi 'First Sovereign Emperor of Qin' (221–210 or 209 bc). The Chinese have been subject to Mongol and Manchu rule, as well as Japanese rule of northern and eastern China in 1937–45. The final a was added by the Portuguese. Porcelain was first made in China which thus gave its name to china.

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China	China Cabinet
china	China Glaze