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What year is it in China? Can someone thoroughly tell me why in China some people say its 1999 instead of 2010? I need a good explanation for a research paper at school. Thanks!

Corrections · 13

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What year is it in China?

Can someone thoroughly tell me why in China some people say its 1999 instead of 2010? I need a good explanation for a research paper at school. Thanks!

1.  What you're referring to as China is the "Republic of China" (ROC), which is located in Taiwan right now...

2.  The China (Mainland) is generally known as "People's Republic of China" (PRC).

In Taiwan, they sometimes use the founding of the ROC to mark dates.  This is a custom that originates with the Imperial date system.  Each dynasty would start at Year 0 (They still do this in Japan -- it is Heisei 22 -- the 22nd year of the reign of the present emperor).  

So the Chinese revolution by Sun Yat-Sen (NOT Mao Zedong) is dated on 1912 (so 1912 is year 1).  So it's the 99th year (NOT 1999) of the Republic of China.  If you died today in Taiwan, your tombstone would say you died on Year 99 of the ROC.  民國99年

I think that's right...
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in chinese mainland we only use "the Christian era",just same as you.but in taiwan they use not only Christian era but also Minguo calendar.And the year of 1912(A.D) is the year of 1(Minguo calendar).SO 2010-1912+1=99.
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I always forget but my teacher says she's from south China. I just asked this question because my friend just came back from Taiwan the beginning of this year and most of the things that she brought back to the US with her had dates like: 99/1/3 instead of 2010/1/3. We both didn't know what the deal was so I decided to ask all of my lovely friends here at italki : )
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Seems Taiwan province use two years. One is the global, another is Minguo calendar. Dear Ebony, Where are you learn Chinese? Or maybe what's your teacher's hometown?
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it is 2010. no one say 199?. nobody~

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