The term “zhong guo” (China) connotes a sense of territory. It implies that its people live “within four walls.” Therefore, traditionally, the Chinese often emphasize the alienness of the “barbarians” living on the Chinese borders so as to heighten the sense of identity among the Chinese. In modern times, under the influence of nationalism, the “barbarians” that inhabit China’s marginalized regions gradually came to be known as “minority groups.” The long process of nationalization can also be seen as the process of reconstructing China’s borders.
