In the vast, digital landscape of Chinese web fiction, a specific genre has emerged that functions as a collective exercise in historical revisionism. Rather than looking toward the stars or distant futures, thousands of readers are looking backward, obsessing over how modern knowledge could have prevented China’s historical “humiliations.”
In his recent book, Make China Great Again: Online Alt-History Fiction and Popular Authoritarianism, Rongbin Han, a professor of politics at the University of Georgia, explores this phenomenon. Through an analysis of over 2,000 popular titles, Han reveals how these “alt-history” stories serve as more than just escapist entertainment—they are a mirror reflecting the country’s current political climate and nationalist fervor.
The Mechanics of Historical Revisionism
The premise of these novels is remarkably consistent: a protagonist travels back in time, armed with modern technological, economic, or political knowledge, to steer a historical era toward a more prosperous and powerful path.
Han’s research highlights several key trends within this genre:
- Massive Scale: These are not short stories. The average alt-history novel spans roughly 2.88 million characters—a length comparable to the entire Harry Potter series.
- Gendered Perspectives: While female protagonists appear frequently in time-travel stories, Han notes that the specific subgenre of “saving the nation” is almost exclusively written by men, for a male audience.
- Targeting the “Weak” Eras: Writers often target dynasties perceived as periods of decline. The Ming Dynasty is a frequent setting, as many readers associate the subsequent Qing Dynasty with China’s failure to industrialize.
- The “Red Dawn” Effect: Some stories attempt to accelerate political movements. One notable novel, Red Dawn, depicts a protagonist traveling back to 1905 to initiate a Communist revolution earlier than in actual history, essentially providing a “blueprint” for the rise of the current political system.
Navigating the “Time and Space Administration”
The relationship between this genre and the state is complex. While these stories are deeply nationalistic, they exist under the constant shadow of heavy government censorship.
The industry operates within a delicate balance:
1. Co-option: Many stories echo the official state narrative of “national rejuvenation,” effectively acting as a form of grassroots propaganda that legitimizes the current power structure.
2. Censorship: Despite their nationalist themes, many novels are banned. Discussion of specific political ideologies or sensitive eras (such as the first 30 years of the People’s Republic) is strictly regulated.
Writers often joke that the Chinese censorship apparatus functions like a “Time and Space Administration,” dictating which historical eras are “safe” to visit and which are strictly off-limits.
MCGA vs. MAGA: A Different Kind of Nostalgia
Han draws a provocative comparison between these stories and the “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) movement in the West, labeling the genre “Make China Great Again” (MCGA) fiction. However, he notes a fundamental psychological difference in the motivation behind the two movements.
“For MAGA… adherents are looking backward because they are not happy with the current state of things… MCGA believers, on the other hand, think China is great now and will remain great in the future.”
While Western populism often stems from a sense of loss or dissatisfaction with globalization, the MCGA phenomenon is driven by triumphalism. These readers do not wish to return to the past; they want to go back and ensure that China’s rise to power happened even sooner and more decisively. They seek to retroactively apply the lessons of China’s modern success to its historical struggles.
Conclusion
The boom in alt-history web novels reveals a society deeply invested in its national identity. By reimagining the past through the lens of modern strength, these stories allow readers to process contemporary political pride while navigating the strict boundaries of state-sanctioned history.
