諸夏

諸夏

1. (archaic, historical) the diverse Xias; the peoples of the historical Chinese heartland that identify with each other

   Antonym: 夷狄 (yídí)

   • 子曰：「夷狄之有君，不如諸夏之亡也。」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     子曰：“夷狄之有君，不如诸夏之亡也。” [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

     Zǐyuē: “Yídí zhī yǒu jūn, bùrú zhūxià zhī wú yě.” [Pinyin]

     The Master said, "The rude tribes of the east and north have their princes, and are not like the States of our great land which are without them."

   • 戎狄豺狼，不可厭也；諸夏親暱，不可棄也。宴安酖毒，不可懷也。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     戎狄豺狼，不可厌也；诸夏亲昵，不可弃也。宴安鸩毒，不可怀也。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: Commentary of Zuo, c. 4^th century BCE

     Róngdí cháiláng, bùkě yàn yě; zhūxià qīnnì, bùkě qì yě. Yàn'ān zhèndú, bùkě huái yě. [Pinyin]

     The Rong and Di are dholes and wolves and may not be satisfied; the various grand states are close intimates and may not be abandoned. Ease and peace are banes and poisons and may not be embraced.

Chiefly used in ancient Chinese historiography as endonym, implying a common identification amid geographical, political, and other diversities. The notion is related but not identical to the idea expressed by the word "China".