A CERTIDÃO DE NASCIMENTO DO NOME DE MACAU澳門名稱誕生的證明
The article proposes "The Birth Certificate of the Name of Macau" by confronting traditional historiography on the origins and etymology of the toponym with a new primary document: an autograph letter by Fernão Mendes Pinto, written from Macau on November 20, 1555, and addressed to the rector of the...
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| Published in: | Review of Culture |
|---|---|
| Main Author: | |
| Format: | Articles |
| Published: |
Instituto Cultural de Macau
January 2009
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.icm.gov.mo/rc/viewer/pdfViewerParts/40029/3623 |
| _version_ | 1877196270718681088 |
|---|---|
| author | Jin Guoping e Wu Zhiliang |
| author_autocomplete | Jin Guoping e Wu Zhiliang |
| author_browse | Jin Guoping e Wu Zhiliang |
| author_facet | Jin Guoping e Wu Zhiliang Jin Guoping e Wu Zhiliang |
| author_sort | Jin Guoping e Wu Zhiliang |
| container_title | Review of Culture |
| container_title_str | Review of Culture |
| container_volume | 29 |
| container_volume_str | 29 |
| description | The article proposes "The Birth Certificate of the Name of Macau" by confronting traditional historiography on the origins and etymology of the toponym with a new primary document: an autograph letter by Fernão Mendes Pinto, written from Macau on November 20, 1555, and addressed to the rector of the College of Goa, Father Baltazar Dias. The research argues that, by revealing the earliest and most stable spelling of the term, the missive serves as key evidence to overcome competing variants regarding the original form of the name. Methodologically, the authors combine paleographic and comparative analysis of preserved copies (notably two held at the Biblioteca da Ajuda, Lisbon), verifying internal writing discrepancies ("ama quão," "ama cuao," "amaquã," "amaquan") and concluding that the signature and handwriting are attributable to Fernão Mendes Pinto himself, qualifying the text as an original document. Additionally, a reconstruction of archaic spellings and the phonetic evolution of the toponym is undertaken within the Lusitanian context—with attention to the transition from Amacao/Macão/Macao—integrating later testimonies (letters and reports) and prior discussions. As a result, the letter reveals the form "amaquão," related to Amagang/Yamagang, offering a documentary basis for reassessing the etymology and chronology of the name's transformation. |
| first_indexed | 2026-09-11T02:56:55Z |
| format | Articles |
| genre | Articles |
| genre_facet | Articles |
| hierarchy_browse | Review of Culture{{{_ID_}}}zotero-coll-76L3BRGH |
| hierarchy_parent_id | zotero-coll-76L3BRGH |
| hierarchy_parent_title | Review of Culture |
| hierarchy_sequence | 0000 |
| hierarchy_top_id | zotero-coll-WX87PJHD |
| hierarchy_top_title | News |
| hierarchytype | Default |
| id | zotero-8M7AF9MZ |
| institution | zotero_group |
| issn | 1682-1106 |
| last_indexed | 2026-09-11T02:56:55Z |
| latest_content_date | 2026-09-11T02:56:55Z |
| publishDate | January 2009 |
| publishDateRange | 2009 |
| publishDateSort | 2009 |
| publishPlace | Macau |
| publisher | Instituto Cultural de Macau |
| publisherStr | Instituto Cultural de Macau |
| record_format | zotero |
| spelling | A CERTIDÃO DE NASCIMENTO DO NOME DE MACAU澳門名稱誕生的證明 The article proposes "The Birth Certificate of the Name of Macau" by confronting traditional historiography on the origins and etymology of the toponym with a new primary document: an autograph letter by Fernão Mendes Pinto, written from Macau on November 20, 1555, and addressed to the rector of the College of Goa, Father Baltazar Dias. The research argues that, by revealing the earliest and most stable spelling of the term, the missive serves as key evidence to overcome competing variants regarding the original form of the name. Methodologically, the authors combine paleographic and comparative analysis of preserved copies (notably two held at the Biblioteca da Ajuda, Lisbon), verifying internal writing discrepancies ("ama quão," "ama cuao," "amaquã," "amaquan") and concluding that the signature and handwriting are attributable to Fernão Mendes Pinto himself, qualifying the text as an original document. Additionally, a reconstruction of archaic spellings and the phonetic evolution of the toponym is undertaken within the Lusitanian context—with attention to the transition from Amacao/Macão/Macao—integrating later testimonies (letters and reports) and prior discussions. As a result, the letter reveals the form "amaquão," related to Amagang/Yamagang, offering a documentary basis for reassessing the etymology and chronology of the name's transformation. Instituto Cultural de Macau Macau Review of Culture Articles January 2009 Jin Guoping e Wu Zhiliang |
| spellingShingle | A CERTIDÃO DE NASCIMENTO DO NOME DE MACAU澳門名稱誕生的證明 Jin Guoping e Wu Zhiliang |
| title | A CERTIDÃO DE NASCIMENTO DO NOME DE MACAU澳門名稱誕生的證明 |
| title_autocomplete | A CERTIDÃO DE NASCIMENTO DO NOME DE MACAU澳門名稱誕生的證明 |
| title_full | A CERTIDÃO DE NASCIMENTO DO NOME DE MACAU澳門名稱誕生的證明 |
| title_fullStr | A CERTIDÃO DE NASCIMENTO DO NOME DE MACAU澳門名稱誕生的證明 |
| title_full_unstemmed | A CERTIDÃO DE NASCIMENTO DO NOME DE MACAU澳門名稱誕生的證明 |
| title_short | A CERTIDÃO DE NASCIMENTO DO NOME DE MACAU澳門名稱誕生的證明 |
| title_sort | a certidão de nascimento do nome de macau澳門名稱誕生的證明 |
| url | https://www.icm.gov.mo/rc/viewer/pdfViewerParts/40029/3623 |
| zotero_collection_key | 76L3BRGH |