The Evolution of Statehood in Chinese Characters: Sovereignty, Legitimacy, and Political Narratives

This paper explores the evolution of the Chinese character guo (state, 国) from ancient times to the present, uncovering how shifts in script construction reflect and shape narratives of sovereignty and statehood. It highlights how even minor script variations influence statehood narratives, legitimize authority, and challenge power structures. Situating itself within the broader framework of Global International Relations (IR), this study challenges Eurocentric epistemologies that marginalize non-Western perspectives and emphasizes the messy, nonlinear evolution of political ideas. This study employs textual and symbolic analysis grounded in poststructuralist theory to examine the relationship between signifiers (characters) and the signified (political concepts), demonstrating how discourse constructs political realities. By examining the characters adopted by Wu Zetian, the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, and the Nationalist government, this article reveals how script functioned as a medium for asserting political authority and articulating ideological visions. The findings reveal the enduring power of symbolism in shaping political identity, which remains relevant in contemporary Chinese politics. This study offers a fresh perspective on statehood by foregrounding script as both symbolic and material, contributing to the decolonization of IR scholarship by foregrounding the role of linguistic constructs in shaping political concepts, governance frameworks, and security practices. It provides a nuanced understanding of China’s evolving political narratives around statehood across the longue durée.