Is Aladdin originally middle eastern or chinese?

[Anonymous]

[Lliam]

"The Thousand and One Nights, collection of largely Middle Eastern and Indian stories of uncertain date and authorship. Its tales of Aladdin, Ali Baba, and Sindbad the Sailor have almost become part of Western folklore, though these were added to the collection only in the 18th century in European adaptations."

https://www.britannica.com/topic/The-Thousand-and-One-Nights

[NamerOfStars]

In the book, he's Chinese. Adaptations vary, and since it's the kind of book that doesn't really have a single definitive version, though...

[Asker]

What is the original version? Does it say Aladdin from China or a different place?

[NamerOfStars]

I think the oldest written copy dates from the 1300's.

[laly520]

middle eastern
u could check the collection of arabian nights or 1001 night if I recall well

[petitedollbabee]

I’ve always assumed middle eastern.

[Asker]

"In one of the large and rich cities of China there once lived a tailor named Mustapha"

[BCA6010]

Chinese but you also have to keep in mind that in the late 13th century when the story first began circulating, the Mongol/Chinese empire had conquered Persia and controlled most of the middle east to the east of modern day Saudi Arabia for a time, but the city of Aqaba is not in that territory; it's closer to Egypt but still on the Arabian peninsula. Chinese traders making their way this far out (and presumably spreading their seed...) would not have been unusual at this time, as the silk road had existed in one way or another at least as far back as 138 BC, and continued through the 1800s.

[strateguy632]

aladin character chinese, but aladin story arabian so both!

[Avicenna]

in the Arabian Nights book I read as a kid, he was Chinese

[exitseven]

Jack Aladdin. He is a rug salesman from Hoboken.

[Stacy0706]

Middle Eastern i thought. I mean sultans is middle eastern thing I thought.

[Anonymous]

the Arabian Nights

[Asker]

not originally from there

[NathanDavis]

Disneyese

[sheikalana]

I characters are clearly middle eastern.

[ChicoFromThe305]

Middle eastern lol

[Asker]

Yes but not the version I read

[ChicoFromThe305]

Wdym

[Asker]

according to what I read Aladdin is from China. I thought he is middle eastern

[ChicoFromThe305]

Well you sure there's not more than one, let's not forget it can also be made up lol

[Asker]

I just want to know if Aladdin was originally supposed to be chinese by whoever wrote that story

[ChicoFromThe305]

I don't think so unless they recreated the whole thing, flying carpets is only a fantasy that's suppose to originate in the middle East of I'm not mistaken ha

[Asker]

It's a story which means the character doesn't have to be middle eastern. aladdin is not a real person. genie, magic carpets, none of those r real. I think the author decide whatever race the character is

[ChicoFromThe305]

No cause culture is still a thing, also if you see any of the movies they put a middle eastern culture, why didn't they add a Asian culture for example like avatar the last air bender did with their things, they gave it an Asian theme just how Aladdin made it middle eastern.

[Asker]

I mean its just a story. I don't know anything about avatar. But why did the author set the story in China? So it could be possible that he created the character Aladdin as Chinese, it's just a story so it doesn't have to be realistic but if that's what he thinks is china, he has no knowledge of China or travel

[Asker]

I think it's just a story written by someone with no knowledge of China so china is based on what he thinks it is so it doesn't make sense

[ChicoFromThe305]

Alright bro, if you wanna think it's Chinese by all means go for it 😂

[Asker]

ok then I don't know what the author intention was
y is he confusing us. but can you explain why he wrote that Aladdin is from china? was it a mistake?

[ChicoFromThe305]

He could've been enslaved in China for all you know lol

[shortster]

Doesn't it take place in Saudi Arabia?

[sheenagwapa]

isn't it from Iran

[dolemite58]

Arabian

[Anonymous]

He’s white