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When did the name Nanjing meaning Southern Capital begin to be used?
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Nanjing
Skyline of central Nanjing, Jiangsu province, China.
The name Nanjing, which translates to "Southern Capital," was officially introduced in 1403 during the Ming dynasty.12
This designation occurred when the Yongle emperor began the process of moving the capital to the city he renamed Beijing ("Northern Capital"). Prior to this, the city had been known by various other names throughout its history, such as Jianye, Jiankang, and Yingtianfu.1