Editing Names of China (section)

==== Middle Kingdom ====
The English translation of {{Transliteration|zh|Zhongyuan}} as the "Middle Kingdom" entered European languages through the Portuguese in the 16th century and became popular in the mid-19th century. By the mid-20th century, the term was thoroughly entrenched in the English language, reflecting the Western view of China as the inward-looking Middle Kingdom, or more accurately, the "Central Kingdom" or ''"''Central State''"''. Endymion Wilkinson points out that the Chinese were not unique in thinking of their country as central, although China was the only culture to use the concept for its name.<ref>Wilkinson, p. 132.</ref> However, the term ''{{Transliteration|zh|Zhongguo}}'' was not initially used as a name for China. It did not have the same meaning throughout the course of history, ([[#Pre-Qing|see above]]).{{sfn|Wilkinson|2012|p=191}}

During the 19th century, China was alternatively, although less commonly, referred to in the west as the "Middle Flowery Kingdom",<ref>Man and the universe. Japan. Siberia. China, p710</ref> "Central Flowery Kingdom",<ref>Mission Stories of Many Lands, A Book for Young People, p174</ref> or "Central Flowery State",<ref>Mesny's Chinese Miscellany, Volume 2, p3</ref> translated from {{Transliteration|zh|Zhōnghuáguó}} (中華國; 中华国),<ref>{{Cite book|title = The Complete Story of Civilization|last = Durant|first = Will|publisher = Simon & Schuster|year = 2014|isbn = 9781476779713|page = 631|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CfGPAgAAQBAJ&pg=PT631}}</ref> or simply the "[[wikt:Flowery Kingdom|Flowery Kingdom]]",<ref>New England Stamp Monthly, Volumes 1-2, p67</ref> translated from {{Transliteration|zh|Huáguó}} (華國; 华国).<ref>{{Cite book|title = Death on the Chang Tang - Tibet, 1950 : the Education of an Anthropologist|author = Frank B. Bessac|publisher = University of Montana Printing & Graphic Services|year = 2006|isbn = 9780977341825|page = 9|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=m59OAQAAIAAJ&q=%22flowery+kingdom%22+huaguo}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title = Shaanxi Teachers University journal - Philosophy and Social sciences|author = Xi'an, Shaanxi Sheng, China|publisher = 陕西师范大学|year = 1994|isbn = 9780977341825|page = 91|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dWdGAAAAMAAJ&q=%22flowery+kingdom%22}}</ref> However, some have since argued that such a translation (fairly commonly seen at that time) was perhaps caused by misunderstanding the {{Transliteration|zh|Huá}} (華; 华) that means "China" (or "magnificent, splendid") for the {{Transliteration|zh|Huā}} (花) that means "flower".<ref>{{Cite book|title = Chinese Art: A Guide to Motifs and Visual Imagery|author = Patricia Bjaaland Welch|publisher = Tuttle Publishing|year = 2013|isbn = 9781462906895|page = 69|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dAPQAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA59-IA17}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title = 29 Chinese Mysteries|last = Pialat|first = François|publisher = AuthorHouse UK|year = 2011|isbn = 9781456789237|page = 69|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CDW2VWt3Vj4C&pg=PA69}}</ref>