Ningxia
/nǐŋ.ɕjâ/ (Mandarin; Níngxià)noun
A region in north-central China, officially the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.
Did you know?The “Xia” in Ningxia refers to Western Xia, a Tangut-ruled empire destroyed by the Mongols in 1227; the name memorializes the Yuan administration imposed afterward.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient China
Chinese
夏 (Xià)
“Xia, the name of an ancient Chinese dynasty and later a historical name used in states and regions.”
1038–1227
Tangut Chinese
西夏 (Xī Xià)
“Western Xia, the Tangut-led kingdom centered in the area of present-day Ningxia and adjoining northwestern China.”
1227
Mongol-era Chinese
西夏
“Western Xia was conquered by the Mongol Empire after a prolonged campaign.”
13th Century
Chinese
寧夏 (Níngxià)
““Pacified Xia”; 寧 means peaceful or pacified, while 夏 refers to the former Western Xia realm.”
1287
Yuan Chinese
寧夏路 (Níngxià lù)
“Ningxia Circuit, an administrative unit of the Yuan dynasty; this is among the earliest official uses of the regional name.”
Modern English
English
Ningxia
“The conventional English form for the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region of China.”
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