Giao-Chi
/zaw˧˧ tɕi˧˩/noun
An ancient Chinese name for the region corresponding broadly to northern Vietnam and the Red River delta.
Did you know?The name was used for the Han imperial commandery of Jiaozhi, while the famous “crossed toes” interpretation may describe a local custom, anatomy, or simply reflect later Chinese character-based explanation.
Etymological Timeline
Late 1st millennium BCE
Classical Chinese
交趾
“The earliest known written form of the regional name; its characters literally suggest “intersecting toes.””
2nd century BCE
Han Chinese
交趾郡
“Jiaozhi Commandery, an imperial administrative district established in the Red River region after Han expansion southward.”
Middle Chinese
Middle Chinese
交趾
“The inherited historical name, conventionally reconstructed approximately as Jiaozhi.”
Medieval period
Vietnamese
Giao Chỉ
“The Sino-Vietnamese reading of the Chinese name for the northern Vietnamese region.”
19th century
English
Giao-chi
“An English historical and geographical form used in scholarship for the ancient region and commandery.”
Modern English
English
Giao-Chi
“A historical name primarily encountered in discussions of ancient Chinese administration and Vietnamese history.”