Abstract: The paper proposes that history is also literature, and examines the historical representation of China from the perspectives of literature and literary anthropology. The paper argues the following three main prepositions. In terms of literary and oral representation, history belongs to literature in the broad sense. All the representations of Chinese history can be investigated from the perspective of literature. Since China is a multi-nation state, the representations of its history require a vision of pluralist dialogue, and this asks for a deep understanding of sinology while the dialogue should extend to the communication within the studies of the ethnic nationalities such as the Tibetan, the Manchu, the Mongol, the Miao and the Yi.

Key words: Chinese history, representation, literary anthropology