Perception of “inner China” and legitimate Cathay concepts in the literature of Jin Dynasty

Abstract

The royal government of the Jin Dynasty (Jin Chao 金朝 CE 1115–1234) had regarded itself as a legitimate Cathay dynasty while the Song (Song Chao 宋朝 CE 960–1279) and Jin were confronting each other in military and political affairs. The “inner China” notion and the legitimate Cathay perception were bred in the Jin Dynasty along with the historical trend of merging the Han nationality with all the other nationalities in China. The notion and the concept could also help prove the legality of the rule of China by the Jin Dynasty. The legitimate concept was very systematic and distinct and was displayed in three stages of literature in Jin Dynasty. The concept owned by the governors of the Jin had met its distillation in Zhongzhou ji 中州集 (Collections of Central Region Literati) written and compiled by Yuan, while the concept was finally acknowledged and accepted by the adherents of the Southern Song Dynasty (Nan Song 南宋 CE 960–1279).