General situation of ancient Cantonese in Guangdong

Guangdong, now referred to as Guangdong, originally referred to as Baiyue (Baiyue). In ancient literature, "Yue" and "Yue" are interchangeable and can be used at will. After the Sui and Tang Dynasties, the meaning of the word "Guangdong" narrowed, generally referring to Lingnan area, or "South Guangdong". That's what the word "Cantonese" means. Therefore, "Cantonese" refers to the ethnic groups whose mother tongue is Cantonese in Lingnan area. Until modern times, Guangdong and Guangxi were still called "Guangdong". After the Republic of China, the word "Guangdong", as the abbreviation of Guangdong Province, is now called "Guangdong", which mostly refers to Guangdong.

The word "Nanyue" first appeared in the historical records of Qin and Han Dynasties. It is called Nanyue in history books and Nanyue in Han books, and the abbreviation of "Yue" in Guangdong Province today comes from this.

Four or five thousand years ago, all ethnic groups in southern China were generally called "Yue" and were called Baiyue in ancient times. After historical baptism, regime change and population migration, Baiyue aborigines have assimilated with the Han nationality. In ancient times, the Han nationality in the Central Plains moved south to Lingnan because of relegation or regime change, and also brought the Chinese language in the Central Plains (that is, the elegant language in the Central Plains) to Lingnan. During the Qin and Han Dynasties, it spread to Guangdong and Guangxi, merged with the local ancient South Vietnamese, and produced a new language-Cantonese.

The ancestors of Cantonese people are the descendants of ancient Baiyue-Nanyue Cantonese ethnic group. About 6.5438+0.29 million years ago, the early ancients (Maba people) appeared in Lingnan. During the Shang Dynasty and the Western Zhou Dynasty, Guangdong ancestors had economic and cultural exchanges with the Shang and Zhou Dynasties in the Central Plains. During the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, Lingnan and Wu Yuechu had close relations and frequent contacts. The legends of Chuting and Nanwucheng in history reflect the relationship between Lingnan and Chuyue in this period. There is also a record of "writing a letter" in Guoyu Chu Yu Shang, which shows that there was a military and political relationship between Lingnan and Chu at that time.

Cantonese ethnic group is mainly composed of early immigrants and ancient Yue ethnic group. The cultural characteristics of Cantonese ethnic groups are the most prominent in the Pearl River Delta, which are not only inherited from ancient South Vietnam, but also influenced by Chinese culture in the Central Plains, western culture and colonial abnormal economic factors, with multiple levels and components. The Xijiang River, Beijiang River Basin and Pearl River Delta, where Guangfu people live, are the earliest areas where feudal culture developed in Guangdong.

Today's Cantonese people are not only inherited from ancient South Vietnam, but also influenced by Chinese culture in the Central Plains, western culture and colonial abnormal economic factors, with multiple levels and components.