Cathay

Cathay is the name that was given to northern China by Marco Polo (he referred to southern China as Manji). "Cathay" is an Anglicized version of the word Khitan, who were a tribe ruling predominantly in Northern China during Polo's visits.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Below is a diagram showing the progression from Khitan to Cathay as the word travelled westward:

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• Uygur (Western China): Hyty
• Mongolian/Classic Mongolian: Hyatad(Хятад)/ Kitad
• Kazan Tatar (Central Russia): Qıtay
• Russian: Kitai (Китай)
• Medieval Latin: Cataya, Kitai
• Italian: Catai
• Portuguese: Catai
• English: Cathay

China: :This article is about Chinese civilization. For the modern-day state commonly referred to as "China", see People's Republic of China. For other meanings, see China (disambiguation)....

Marco Polo: :This article is about the Venetian explorer. For other uses, see Marco Polo (disambiguation)...

Manji: Manji (卍) is the Japanese word for swastika.Manji (from Chinese Manzi, "southern barbarians") was also the name Marco Polo used to refer to southern China, that is, that part of China that had recently been conquered by Kublai Khan. See China in world languages.Manji is the proper name of th...