Fo-chan

English

Etymology

A French-derived romanization of the Mandarin Chinese pronunciation for 佛山 (Fóshān).

Proper noun

Fo-chan

1. (obsolete) Alternative form of Foshan
   • 1743, Travels of the Jesuits, into Various Parts of the World‎^[1], page 111:

     The Paſſage from Canton to Chao-kin is by Water. At the Diſtance of five Leagues we meet with Fo-chan, the greateſt Village in the World. I call it a Village becauſe it has no Walls, nor any particular Governor, though it is happy in a great Trade, and conſiſts of more Inhabitants, and even Houſes, than Canton it being computed to contain a Million of Souls at leaſt. The Jeſuits of the Province of Japan have a fine Church there, and a numerous Flock. Twelve Leagues above Fo-chan, the River is divided into three Arms; the one comes from the North, the other runs to Chao-kin and the third to Canton.

   • [1787 March, “Description generale de la Chine ; ou, Tableau de l' Etat actuel, & c. i. e. the Preſent State of the Chineſe Empire, & c.”, in The Critical Review‎^[2], volume LXIII, translation of original by Jean-Baptiste Grosier, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 217:

     About four or five leagues from Canton is the celebrated village of Fo-ſhan, ſaid to be the moſt populous in the world, and called a village becauſe it is not encloſed by walls, nor has a particular governor, although its commerce is immenſe, and it contains more houſes and inhabitants than even Canton itſelf.

     (Note: Fo-shan is the English-derived name for Foshan.)]

   • 1788, Jean-Baptiste Grosier, “The Province of Quang-tong”, in anonymous translator, A General Description of China : Containing the Topography of the Fifteen Provinces which Compose this Vast Empire; that of Tartary, the Isles, and other Tributary Countries; The Number and Situation of its Cities, the State of its Population, the Natural History of its Animals, Vegetables and Minerals. Together with the latest Accounts that have reached Europe, of the Government, Religion, Manners, Customs, Arts and Sciences of the Chinese. Illustrated by a New and Correct Map of China, and other Copper-plates.‎^[3], volume I, London: G. G. J. and J. Robinson, translation of De la Chine: ou Description générale de cet empire, rédigée d'après les mémoires de la mission de Pé-Kin (in French), →OCLC, page 102:

     Four leagues from Canton is the famous village of Fo-chan, the largeſt and moſt populous in the world ; it is called a village becauſe it is not incloſed by walls, and has not a particular governor, although it carries on a great trade, and contains more houſes and inhabitants than even Canton itſelf.

   • 1798, An Authentic Account of the Embassy of the Dutch East-India Company, to the Court of the Emperor of China, in the Years 1794 and 1795‎^[4], page 40:

     We paſſed, during the night, the celebrated city of Fo-chan, of which we were conſequently unable to form any idea. As great a trade is carried on there as at Canton itſelf, and in extent it is not leſs conſiderable than that city.

   • For more quotations using this term, see Citations:Fo-chan.

French

Proper noun

Fo-chan f

1. Obsolete spelling of Foshan.