Shanxi and Shansi Xing Yi Quan

[elu296]

Can someone clarify for me? Are "Shanxi" and "Shansi" different English spellings of the same Chinese name, or are they actually two different lineages? Thanks in advance.

[YouKnowWho]

山西(Shan Xi) is the correct province name. There is no such province name as Shan Si in China.

[elu296]

Thank you very much.

[xinyidizi]

The standard pronunciation of "X" in Mandarin is something between "SH" and "S" in English and some Southern Chinese who have a local accent as well as some people who want to sound cute may pronounce it closer to English "S". Also there are two provinces named "Shanxi" in China but they have different tones. The one that you are looking for is Shānxī but there is another one called Shǎnxī where the the Terracotta army is located, however without the tone marks it is usually spelled as Shaan'xi to clear up the confusion.