* Evolution, not creation: Both Mandarin and Cantonese, along with other Chinese dialects, evolved from a common ancestor, the Middle Chinese language spoken centuries ago. There's no single "birth" moment for either one.
* Gradual divergence: Over time, different regions of China developed distinct pronunciations, vocabulary, and grammatical features, leading to the emergence of what we know as Mandarin and Cantonese.
* No clear cut-off: There's no specific point where Middle Chinese suddenly became Mandarin or Cantonese. It was a gradual process of divergence and change.
So, how do we think of the relationship?
* Common ancestor: Both Mandarin and Cantonese are branches of the same linguistic tree, ultimately stemming from Middle Chinese.
* Mutual influence: Even as they diverged, Mandarin and Cantonese have influenced each other throughout history.
* Contemporary varieties: Today, both Mandarin and Cantonese are major languages with their own distinct characteristics and many sub-dialects.
To summarize: The question of which came "first" is misleading. Both Mandarin and Cantonese are products of the evolution of Chinese languages over centuries.