An Old Mandarin rhyme book
Zhongyuan Yinyun records a system of pronunciation.
Density
Speech, writing & standardisationOur World
Mandarin Chinese
Trace documented earlier forms and the choices that shaped modern standard Mandarin.
Subject guide · scope, chapters & sources ↗Requested road · Mandarin can mean a broad group of Chinese varieties or a modern spoken standard. This road focuses on selected records and standardisation, not a single language “birth date” or the whole history of Chinese.
A language across official circles
Guanhua helps officials communicate across regions.
A national standard is constructed
Language reformers debate a shared spoken norm.
Putonghua is promoted
A directive sets out the basis of the spoken standard.
Hanyu Pinyin is approved
Roman letters provide a system for representing pronunciation.
A language law takes effect
Putonghua and standardised characters receive a legal framework.