20th Century – IWENAI

You’re Wrong About Cilantro. The Name Is a Centuries-Old Political Cover-Up.

📅 August 25, 2026 📂 China Watch

You think the name for cilantro is ancient and stable. It’s not. The official name is a 20th-century dictionary invention built on a medieval typo and a 4th-century ethnic taboo. The real history survived not in textbooks, but in a dish called ‘salt-explode’ tripe.

Why Your Chinese Dictionary Is Wrong About Baboons (And What It Says About History)

📅 August 24, 2026 📂 China Watch

Why do baboons, mandrills, and geladas lack the Chinese character for ‘monkey’ in their names? It’s not biology—it’s a 150-year-old translation war between missionaries, Japanese officials, and ancient folklore. The real story reveals how power and culture shape even the most ‘scientific’ categories.

19th Century 20th Century Academia Cultural History Language Translation Zoology