Securitising History: Reimagining and Reshaping the ‘Imagined Community’ in China’s New Era

In the summer of 2023, the British Museum hosted a major exhibition titled 'China's Hidden Century' (British Museum 2023).This ambitious display aimed to present the political, economic, and social transformations of China under the late Qing Dynasty in the nineteenth century.On a microlevel, it aspired to show the creativity, diversity, and resilience of Chinese individuals during an era of rapid change and uncertainty through the careful curation of portraits, artisanship, and household items.On a macrolevel,The Chinese army defeats the Khoja brothers (Burhn al-Dn and Khwja-i Jahn) in Yesil-Kol-Nor (presentday Yashil Kul, Tajikistan), 1759.