This is the first book to comprehensively map the relationships between sport, nationalism and nation building in China. It explores the last 150 years of Chinese history - how sport contributed to the shaping of the early forms of Chinese nationalism, and how it eventually became an essential part of nationalists', politicians' and educationalists' strategy to revive the Chinese nation. This book offers unparalleled depth and breadth of coverage concerning this complex, interesting, and important field of study.