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China was split North and South during the [[Song dynasty]] in the Middle Ages. The Mongols treated North and South China as separated countries. For example, Marco Polo writes of "Cathay" (North China) and "Manzi" (South China). By the time China was reunited by the [[Ming dynasty]] in 1368, North and South had drifted far apart. The dialect of [[Nanjing]] was chosen as a national standard. In the 1860s, Nanjing was depopulated by the [[Taiping Rebellion]]. As a result, its dialect was displaced by that of Beijing. Both cities speak dialects of the North Chinese type.

In imperial times, people in different parts of the empire communicated with each other using written [[Classical Chinese]]. By the [[Tang dynasty]] (618–907), spoken and written Chinese had diverged into separate languages.

In imperial times, written [[Classical Chinese]] was the standard form of communication. This is the language spoken by Confucius in ancient times, and it is quite different than modern Chinese. Meanwhile, the use of Mandarin was restricted to novels and other forms of popular culture. As a result of the May Fourth Movement, Mandarin largely displaced Classical Chinese in the 1920s.

At the end of the Tang, China was divided into northern and southern states. The Mongols conquered China in the thirteenth century. They treated North and South China as two units within their larger empire. For example, [[Marco Polo ]]writes of "Cathay" (North China) and "Manzi" (South China). By the time China was reunited by the [[Ming dynasty]] in 1368, North and South had drifted far apart.

 

The first Ming emperor selected the Lower Yangtse dialect of Nanjing as a lingua franca. This dialect was referred to as ''Guānhuà'' ("official's speech"). The word "Mandarin" is a translation this name. Classical Chinese continued to be used for formal writing, although popular works such as the novel ''The Golden Lotus'' (1610) were written in the Nanjing dialect. In the late nineteenth century, the dialect of Beijing displaced that of Nanjing. Although both cities speak dialects of the same North Chinese language type, there is considerable divergence. As a result of the May Fourth Movement, Beijing dialect displaced Classical Chinese in the 1920s.

   

   

In the twentieth century, both the Nationalists and the Communists promoted the use of Mandarin. This has occasionally been resisted by speakers of other dialects. The popularity Hong Kong-based pop culture has allowed the Cantonese-speaking South to resist the advance of Mandarin.

In the twentieth century, both the Nationalists and the Communists promoted the use of Mandarin in everyday speech. This has occasionally been resisted by speakers of other dialects. The popularity Hong Kong-based pop culture has allowed the Cantonese-speaking South to resist the advance of Mandarin.

[[Category:Sino-Tibetan languages]]

[[Category:Sino-Tibetan languages]]

[[Category:China]]

[[Category:China]]

[[Category:Taiwan]]

[[Category:Taiwan]]