Jiaozhi
/ˌdʒaʊˈtʃiː/noun
Jiaozhi was an ancient Chinese name for a region centered in northern Vietnam and later a Han imperial commandery there.
Did you know?Chinese histories traditionally connected the name with the crossed or unusually shaped feet of local people, but modern historians treat that explanation cautiously rather than as established fact.
Etymological Timeline
Late 1st millennium BCE
Classical Chinese
交趾
“The written form later romanized as Jiaozhi; literally, “intersecting toes” or “crossed feet,” though the original naming motive is uncertain.”
2nd–1st Century BCE
Chinese
交阯
“An early variant using 阯 instead of 趾, referring to the southern frontier region in Chinese geographical traditions.”
111 BCE
Han Chinese
交趾郡
“The Han dynasty established Jiaozhi Commandery after conquering the Nanyue kingdom, making the name an official administrative designation.”
3rd–10th Centuries
Classical Chinese
交州／交趾
“Jiaozhou and Jiaozhi remained important names for changing administrative regions in the Red River area and northern Vietnam.”
Medieval Period
Vietnamese Sino-reading
Giao Chỉ
“The Vietnamese reading of the Chinese name, used in historical texts for the northern Vietnamese region.”
Modern English
English
Jiaozhi
“A historical and geographical term used in English-language scholarship for the ancient Chinese commandery and surrounding region.”