A brief history of Mandarin Chinese

Take a brief walk through the rich and fascinating history of Mandarin Chinese.

Mandarin, known as "普通话" (Pǔtōnghuà) in Chinese, means "common language,". It's part of the Sino-Tibetan language family and has evolved significantly over centuries.

Let’s take a brief walk through the rich and fascinating history of Mandarin:

Origins

The roots of Mandarin can be traced back to the Northern and Southern dynasties (420–589 AD). During this period, the Chinese language began to diverge into various dialects due to geographical, political, and cultural factors.

Middle Chinese:

Between the 7th and 10th centuries (during the Tang dynasty), a form of Chinese known as "Middle Chinese" was widely spoken. This period is often considered a high point in Chinese culture, and the language of this era significantly influenced the development of Mandarin.

Mongol Influence

The establishment of the Yuan dynasty by the Mongols in the 13th century led to the rise of a dialect based in the capital, Dadu (present-day Beijing). This dialect started to gain prominence and laid the foundation for modern Mandarin.

Ming and Qing Dynasties

During the Ming (1368–1644) and Qing (1644–1912) dynasties, the Beijing dialect continued to spread. The Qing dynasty, in particular, played a crucial role in promoting this dialect as the official language of the empire.

Modern Standard Mandarin

In the early 20th century, with the fall of the Qing dynasty and the rise of the Republic of China, there was a push to create a national language to help unify the country. In 1932, the Nationalist government officially adopted the Beijing dialect as the basis for this national language, which is what we now know as Standard Mandarin.

Simplified Chinese Characters

In the 1950s and 1960s, the People's Republic of China introduced simplified Chinese characters to promote literacy. These characters are used in Mainland China, Singapore, and Malaysia, while traditional characters are still used in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau.

Global Reach

Today, Mandarin is the most spoken language in China and one of the most spoken languages in the world. It's a language with a rich literary tradition and is increasingly being learned as a second language around the globe.

when you learn Mandarin, you are connected to a rich historical and cultural tapestry.

You’re not just gaining a new language skill, but also insights into a culture that has shaped world history as we know it.

Journey Chinese is a Mandarin Tutoring company based in Brisbane Australia, helping Australians learn Chinese with ease.