“Zhina”&“sina”:New Comments on the Right and Wrong of the SINA Net’s Domain Name
ZHOU Cheng
Abstract: In Japan,the SINA Net’s domain name “sina” is pronounced as “∫ina”, just same as the Chinese characters “支那 (Zhina)”. The word “Zhina” had already been introduced to Japan before the East came into contact with the West, and its pronunciation “∫ina” didn’t originate in the word “China” or “Sino”. The “Zhina” was not a pejorative term in former times. But after the Revolution of 1911 in China, the Japanese government had been wantonly using the “Zhina”, a word with an ambiguous sense, as the official name of China. The “Zhina” then became a symbol of despite of Japan against China, and its properties greatly changed. So Chinese business ought not to use the “Zhina” or its transliterated word “Shina” or “Sina” as their trade name. Per contra, the pronunciation of the “sina” or “SINA” is same as that of the “Zhina” in Japanese, but neither of them is the official transliteration of the “Zhina”. Therefore it is arguable to identify the “sina” or “SINA” with the “Zhina”, and furthermore think the SINA Net must be renamed.
Key Words: SINA Net; Domain Name; Zhina; Shina; Sino-Japanese Relations.
[17] “Sino-”, in J. A. Simpson and E. S. C. Weiner, eds., The Oxford English Dictionary, Vol. XV (Clarendon Press, 1989), p. 538;砺波护〈中国学〉,《世界大百科事典》第18卷(日本平凡社,1988年),第232-233页。
[32] Memorandum,October 7,1947, From Glen Bruner to the Chinese Mission,Regarding the Use of the Term Shina, POLAD Document (Tokyo.Oct.10,1947/日本国立国会图书馆藏)。