<p><em><strong>西海与东海仅仅是称谓，在文学上没有任何差别。
西海and东海 are just terms, and there is no difference in literature.</strong></em></p>
<p>身为汉语母语人士，我阅读过许多汉语著作，包括一些古典著作。我可以告诉你，西海与东海并没有使用频率的差别，也不存在文学价值的差异。
As a native Chinese speaker, I have read many Chinese books, including some classical ones. I can tell you that there is no difference in frequency of use between西海and the东海, and there is no difference in literary value.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-08-04T02:20:44.433Z
2024-08-04T02:20:44.433Z
AllayFromChina
<p>You must consider the geography of China. The majority of the population resides on the eastern side of the country, in an elongated region that stretches from north to south. The term '西海' is not commonly used, as there aren't many famous seas on the western side of China. For reference, the north, east, and south sides of China all have coastlines. Take, for example, the phrase '我居北海君南海'. Here, both '北海' and '南海' symbolize long distances rather than actual seas. Given the population distribution, the terms north and south are frequently used to indicate distance. As for the west, it's characterized more by deserts and exotic landscapes than by seas.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-10-25T23:43:25.243Z
2023-10-25T23:43:25.243Z
Wei Wang
<p>In Chinese literature, poetry, song, etc. 西海 is used more often than  东海.  Is it because 西 in Chinese literature more romantic than 东?</p>
<p>For example if I compose a poem, would it be weird if I use 东海 instead?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-09-08T16:59:34.013Z
西海 is used more often than 东海? What proof do you have?
Tang Ho
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-09-08T17:30:18.870Z
Please show examples of both in literature. Perhaps we can take it from there.
monalisa
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-09-09T02:20:49.853Z
We still need to consider 北海 & 南海 as well? In English literature we have "Go East, Young Man", by William O. Douglas. And "Go West, Young Man", coined by Horace Greeley. So, it's 50-50?
Wayne Cheah
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-09-09T05:22:26.237Z
take reference to _我居北海君南海_ I live in 北海(渤海) You live in 南海(廣州 四會) (寄黃幾復 •黃庭堅) or _君( you )處( stay in )北海，寡人( I )處( stay in )南海_
envs_h_gang_5
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-09-10T04:10:42.393Z
I don't think I have ever encountered 西海 in Chinese literature...
fat penguin
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-10-26T02:28:20.440Z
I take it back. I now remember seeing 西海龍王
fat penguin
CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-07-22T01:39:14.533Z
I think he is deeply moved by the song "西海情歌" :)
r13
<culture><history><poetry><literature>
西海 vs 东海 in literature
# 西海 vs 东海 in literature

(Asked by: username_0 on 2023-09-08)

In Chinese literature, poetry, song, etc. 西海 is used more often than 东海. Is it because 西 in Chinese literature more romantic than 东?

For example if I compose a poem, would it be weird if I use 东海 instead?

**Tags:** culture, history, poetry, literature
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: 西海 is used more often than 东海? What proof do you have?  
> **username_2**: Please show examples of both in literature. Perhaps we can take it from there.  
> **username_3**: We still need to consider 北海 & 南海 as well? In English literature we have "Go East, Young Man", by William O. Douglas. And "Go West, Young Man", coined by Horace Greeley. So, it's 50-50?  
> **username_4**: take reference to _我居北海君南海_ I live in 北海(渤海) You live in 南海(廣州 四會) (寄黃幾復 •黃庭堅) or _君( you )處( stay in )北海，寡人( I )處( stay in )南海_  
> **username_5**: I don't think I have ever encountered 西海 in Chinese literature...  
> **username_5**: I take it back. I now remember seeing 西海龍王  
> **username_6**: I think he is deeply moved by the song "西海情歌" :)  

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_7 on 2024-08-04. Score: 0

***西海与东海仅仅是称谓，在文学上没有任何差别。
西海and东海 are just terms, and there is no difference in literature.***

身为汉语母语人士，我阅读过许多汉语著作，包括一些古典著作。我可以告诉你，西海与东海并没有使用频率的差别，也不存在文学价值的差异。
As a native Chinese speaker, I have read many Chinese books, including some classical ones. I can tell you that there is no difference in frequency of use between西海and the东海, and there is no difference in literary value.


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### Answer by username_8 on 2023-10-25. Score: 0

You must consider the geography of China. The majority of the population resides on the eastern side of the country, in an elongated region that stretches from north to south. The term '西海' is not commonly used, as there aren't many famous seas on the western side of China. For reference, the north, east, and south sides of China all have coastlines. Take, for example, the phrase '我居北海君南海'. Here, both '北海' and '南海' symbolize long distances rather than actual seas. Given the population distribution, the terms north and south are frequently used to indicate distance. As for the west, it's characterized more by deserts and exotic landscapes than by seas.


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