“中国”这一名称始于周朝。但最初“中国”并不是指国家，而是指国都。至于把华夏民族的居住地和建立的国家称为“中国”，那就是后来的事情了。古人把星辰中最引人注目的北极星看作是“天中”。这是因为古人观察到满天的星星都围绕北极星转，就像一把转动的伞一样，而伞的顶 The name “China” began in the Zhou Dynasty. But originally “China” does not mean the country, but refers to the capital. As for the place of residence of the Huaxia people and the state established as “China,” that is what happened later. The ancients regarded Polaris, the most conspicuous star in the sky, as “heaven.” This is because the ancients observed that all the stars are turning around Polaris, just like a rotating umbrella, while the umbrella’s top