The best-known medieval Chinese name for Tibet is Tubo (Chinese: 吐蕃 also written as 土蕃 or 土番; pinyin: Tǔbō or Tǔfān). This name first appears in Chinese characters as 土番 in the 7th century (Li Tai) and as 吐蕃 in the 10th-century (Old Book of Tang describing 608–609 emissaries from Tibetan King Namri Songtsen to Emperor Yang of Sui). In the Middle Chinese spoken during that period, as reconstructed by William H. Baxter, 土番 was pronounced thux-phjon and 吐蕃 was pronounced thux-pjon (with the x representing tone).
When did the name for Tibet, Tubo, first appear in Chinese characters?
7th century
This name first appears in Chinese characters as 土番 in the 7th century (Li Tai) and as 吐蕃 in the 10th-century (Old Book of Tang describing 608–609 emissaries from Tibetan King Namri Songtsen to Emperor Yang of Sui).
This name first appears in Chinese characters as Tu Fan in the seventh century (Li Tai) and as Tu Fan in the tenth-century (Old Book of Tang describing six hundred eight-six hundred nine emissaries from Tibetan King Namri Songtsen to Emperor Yang of Sui).
When did the name for Tibet, Tubo, first appear in Chinese characters?