Han, Tang, Song and Yuan Dynasties are very strong. Why do we often call ourselves Han people instead of Tang or Song people?

China is a country with the Han nationality as the main ethnic group. Generally speaking, our appellation has two different aspects: most of us are called Han people, their clothes are called Hanfu, and their characters are called Chinese characters; However, foreigners habitually call us Tangren, the place where China people gather in Chinatown and our clothes Tang suit?

Why is this happening? How did this inconsistency come about?

Han nationality is the old name of Han nationality. The origin of this title is related to the Han Dynasty in history. "Han" comes from water and has boundless meaning in the sky, referring to Tianhe and Yinhe. , but underground generally refers to the Hanshui River. Hanshui River is the Han River today. Liu Bangpei became king in Hanzhong, near the Hanshui River, after he went to Peixian to enter the customs to destroy the Qin Dynasty. Later, Liu Bang took Hanzhong as his base. After defeating Xiang Yu, the whole country was unified and the Han Dynasty was established. From the Western Han Dynasty to the Eastern Han Dynasty, the Han Dynasty lasted for more than 400 years, and it was the longest dynasty ruled by China. The powerful Han Dynasty, unified culture and ruled territory laid the territorial foundation of China's feudal dynasty for more than two thousand years. This provides a historical basis for the names of the Han Dynasty and the Chinese nation.

In addition, the Han dynasty had frequent foreign exchanges and always appeared in a tough stance. Whether passing through the Western Regions, conquering Xiongnu, Xiqiang and North Korea, or incorporating Fujian, Guangdong and South Guangdong, they all showed rare integrity. In the eyes of foreigners, Korea has gradually become a symbol of a country. So a series of Han-centered terms such as "Han soldier", "Han envoy" and "Han people" began to appear.

As for when the Han nationality or the name of the Han nationality was formed, there is no conclusion. There is a saying that "the name of the Han nationality began after Liu Bang proclaimed himself emperor"; There is also a saying that "China people have been called Han since the former Han emperor Xuan Di." But in any case, China people's world consciousness and national consciousness were formed in the Han Dynasty. What is certain is that the appellation of the Han nationality began in the Han Dynasty.

Since the Han Dynasty, no matter how the history develops and the dynasties change, the Chinese descendants in the Central Plains are called Han people.

Like the Han Dynasty, the Tang Dynasty was an impressive dynasty. This deep impression is not limited to economic and cultural prosperity, but also has a vast territory. On the contrary, it is more reflected in the impact on the world. On the one hand, the Tang Dynasty was the most open dynasty in the history of China. At that time, there were more than 70 countries, and foreign nobles sent their children to Chang 'an imperial academy to study China culture. On the other hand, the transportation in the Tang Dynasty was convenient, the land extended in all directions, and the sea was more open. The Silk Road can affect not only Central Asia and some European countries, but also Southeast Asia, West Asia, Egypt and East Africa. In this context, the culture, art and technology of the Tang Dynasty spread, and then influenced the world.

Tang had a high international reputation at that time, and it was also the first time that the western world knew the dynasty of this eastern country. In their view, Tang is the center of economic and cultural exchanges among countries in the world, and China people naturally call it "Tang people". In addition, China people's large-scale overseas business and immigration began in the Tang Dynasty, when overseas Chinese called themselves "Tang people" abroad.

We know that there was a powerful Song and Yuan Dynasty after the Tang Dynasty. Song Dynasty was an era of high prosperity in economy, culture, education and scientific and technological innovation in the ancient history of China. The Yuan Dynasty was the most extensive dynasty in the history of China. The number of people who emigrated overseas in the Song and Yuan Dynasties far exceeded that in the Tang Dynasty. Overseas Chinese do not call themselves "Song people" or "Yuan people". Why?

The reason is actually easy to understand. The Song Dynasty was poor and weak, and the Yuan Dynasty was ruled by other nationalities. Compared with the Song and Yuan Dynasties, overseas Chinese or foreigners tend to recognize the Tang Dynasty, which has a far-reaching influence.