The Invention of China

In this thought-provoking account, Bill Hayton reveals that China's long-held narrative of a 5,000-year-old unified civilization is a modern construct rooted in political motives from the past century. He explores how contemporary China's identity and territorial claims have been shaped by revolutionary efforts to invent a cohesive nation-state, with implications that still influence current geopolitical issues. The book offers a nuanced perspective on how history and politics intertwine in China's national identity.