Dongjing
/tʊŋ˥ tɕiŋ˥/noun
A historical Chinese name meaning “Eastern Capital,” used especially for Kaifeng during the Northern Song dynasty.
Did you know?During the Northern Song dynasty, Dongjing referred to Kaifeng, a vast cosmopolitan capital often described as one of the world’s largest cities around the 11th century.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Chinese
Old Chinese
東 + 京
“A compound of 東, “east,” and 京, “capital city.””
Medieval China
Middle Chinese
東京
“Literally “Eastern Capital”; the characters were used for imperial capitals located east of another political center.”
10th–12th Century
Song Chinese
東京
“The formal name of Kaifeng, capital of the Northern Song dynasty.”
12th–13th Century
Chinese
東京 / Bianjing
“Kaifeng continued to be identified by historical names including Dongjing and Bianjing after political control changed.”
Modern period
Mandarin
Dōngjīng
“The pinyin romanization of 東京, used in historical writing and also as the Mandarin reading of the characters for Tokyo.”