Celestial Empire

American  

noun

1. the former Chinese Empire.

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Celestial Empire British  

noun

1. an archaic or literary name for the Chinese Empire

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Etymology

Origin of Celestial Empire

First recorded in 1815–25

Example Sentences

The Opium War was fought, Hong Kong gained, extraterritorial concessions yanked from the declining Celestial Empire.

From Time Magazine Archive

Under its succession of imperial dynasties, the Chinese defined the world as "all under heaven" and themselves as celestials of the Celestial Empire.

From Time Magazine Archive

The two books attempt to erase any lingering misconceptions about the once Celestial Empire.

From Time Magazine Archive

Some observers see in Red China merely a more ruthless version of the Celestial Empire.

From Time Magazine Archive

I have referred, in a former chapter, to the occasion of my first visit to the Celestial Empire.

From Trade and Travel in the Far East or Recollections of twenty-one years passed in Java, Singapore, Australia and China. by Davidson, G. F.