The Chinese Empire was founded in 221 BC and lasted until 1912, when it was replaced by the Republic of China. During these 2,132 years, the Empire was shaken by civil strife and foreign invasions, conquered by foreign tribes, and experienced disastrous uprisings. Nevertheless, its fundamental institutional, sociopolitical, and cultural characteristics remained unchanged. In the Eternal Empire, the reasons for China's unparalleled political resilience are explored, given that the Empire managed to survive and cope with both internal and external challenges. One of the key factors contributing to its long-standing course was that it combined strict ideological foundations with flexible application. The main political actors and the Empire's neighbors respected and adopted its fundamental principles, such as unity under a monarch. However, the details of leadership were constantly under negotiation. As modern China enters a new era of governance in the 21st century, Pines examines how its imperial legacy influences its trajectory.