History: Old Japan

History
Etymology
The English word Japan is an exonym. The Japanese names for Japan are Nippon (にっぽん) and Nihon (にほん) ; both names are written using the kanji 日本. The Japanese name Nippon is used for most official purposes, including on money, postage stamps, and for many international sporting events. Nihon is a more casual term and is the most frequently used in contemporary speech. Japanese people refer to themselves as Nihonjin (日本人) and to their language as Nihongo (日本語). Both Nippon and Nihon literally mean "sun-origin" and are often translated as the Land of the Rising Sun. This nomenclature comes from Imperial correspondence with the Chinese Sui Dynasty and refers to Japan's eastward position relative to China. Before Nihon came into official use, Japan was known as Wa (倭) or Wakoku (倭国).