神州

神州

1. (literary) the Divine Land (Central Plain or China)

   • 唯王丞相愀然變色曰：「當共戮力王室，克復神州，何至作楚囚相對！」 [Literary Chinese, trad.]
     唯王丞相愀然变色曰：「当共戮力王室，克复神州，何至作楚囚相对！」 [Literary Chinese, simp.]

     From: Liu Yiqing (editor), A New Account of the Tales of the World, 5^th century CE

     Wéi Wáng chéngxiàng qiǎorán biànsè yuē: “Dāng gòng lùlì wángshì, kèfù Shénzhōu, hé zhì zuò Chǔqiú xiàngduì!” [Pinyin]

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   • 何處望神州？滿眼風光北固樓。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     何处望神州？满眼风光北固楼。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: c. 1205, Xin Qiji (辛棄疾), 南鄉子·登京口北固亭有懷

     Héchù wàng Shénzhōu? Mǎnyǎn fēngguāng Běigùlóu. [Pinyin]

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   • 神州只在闌干北，度度來時怕上樓。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     神州只在阑干北，度度来时怕上楼。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: c. 1217, 劉克莊, 冶城

     Shénzhōu zhǐ zài lángān běi, dù dù lái shí pà shàng lóu. [Pinyin]

     (please add an English translation of this usage example)

神州

1. (literary) capital city (of a country)

• IPA^(key): [ɕĩɰ̃ɕɨᵝː]

神(しん)州(しゅう) • (Shinshū) 

1. land of the gods; Japan; China

   Synonym: 神国 (Shinkoku)

   神(しん)州(しゅう)不(ふ)滅(めつ)

   Shinshū Fumetsu

   Immortal Country of Gods (World War II propaganda slogan)

During the twentieth century, especially from the Russo-Japanese War (1904) through World War II (1945), the term was frequently used to refer to Japan in patriotic or propaganda messages. In earlier centuries, it was sometimes used to refer to China or to Japan. Use of the term is associated both with Emperor worship and with Shintoism.