Chinese history paradigms

Abstract

Chinese people have had a strong bond with a long continuous history that has shaped their identity as Chinese. The opening to the outside world during the last century has exposed them to different kinds of histories. Within China, the threats to their civilisation and the possibility of national history have led to many revisions of the Chinese past. Those who have lived outside China have faced alternative historical representations. How will the various experiences with history paradigms influence the very idea of being Chinese? © 2009 Taylor & Francis.