四よん大だい文ぶん明めい

noun

the four great civilizations

Historical term referring to the four ancient civilizations of China, Babylon, India, and Egypt, as proposed by Chinese scholar Liang Qichao in 1900. Used mainly in historical or educational contexts.

• 四よん大だい文ぶん明めいは、黄こう河が文ぶん明めい、メソポタミア文ぶん明めい、インダス文ぶん明めい、エジプト文ぶん明めいを指さす。

  The four great civilizations refer to the Yellow River civilization, Mesopotamian civilization, Indus Valley civilization, and Egyptian civilization.