Perspective/Framing

EUROPE: when an empire broke apart, it never reformed completely - or if it did, it was by some foreign group, and thus not legitimate enough.

CHINA: when an empire broke apart, if eventually reformed, even if not completely, even if owned by ethnic invaders

EUROPE: linguistic variance over time = distinct, fully-realized languages, even though they still all wrote with the same set of 26 characters.

CHINA: linguistic variance over time = dialects of the one "true" language; after all, they all shared the same written script.

EUROPE: an ethnic group comes to hold regional autonomy & declares itself independent from ext. interference, then engages in hugely destructive wars against neighbors (honestly, take your pick)

-> That's Nation-Building, Baby!
...

CHINA: eth. grp comes to hold regional autonomy & declares itself independent from ext. interference, engages in hugely destructive wars against neighbors (honestly, take your pick)

-> Just a rebellion that obv. would be crushed in due course, even if it takes a few centuries.

Framing!