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

In imperial times, people in different parts of the empire communicated with each other using written [[Classical Chinese]] (''wényán wén''). By the [[Tang dynasty]] (618–907), spoken and written Chinese had diverged into separate languages. 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). He does not use any expression that corresponds to the modern concept of "China." By the time China was reunited by the [[Ming dynasty]] in 1368, North and South had drifted far apart.

 

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). He does not use any expression that corresponds to the modern concept of "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 to serve as the basis of a [[lingua franca]]. This is a dialect of the North Chinese type, so it is generally understood in both North and Central China. The imperial lingua franca is referred to as ''Guānhuà'' ("officials' speech"). The word "Mandarin," first recorded in Portuguese in 1524, refers to a Chinese official.  

The first Ming emperor selected the Lower Yangtse dialect of Nanjing to serve as the basis of a [[lingua franca]]. This is a dialect of the North Chinese type, so it is generally understood in both North and Central China. The imperial lingua franca is referred to as ''Guānhuà'' ("officials' speech"). The word "Mandarin," first recorded in Portuguese in 1524, refers to a Chinese official.