The aim of this study is to explore the discursive ways in which group identity was formed in a historical Chinese Community of Practice (Wenger 1998).From a theoretical perspective, this is a pilot study in the sense that it connects current socio-pragmatic theories with the research of Chinese data, instead of treating identity formation in a traditional, sinological way. Along with this theoretical stance, the present chapter contributes also to historical pragmatics due to the fact that in diachronic studies the formation of discursive identity is somewhat neglected. The second part of the analysis in this chapter approaches identity formation discourse from the perspective of politeness research: it devotes special attention to politeness as a “discursive resource” (Thornborrow 2002) in group-identity formation activities. It is argued that along with fulfilling its primary discursive function, politeness can also serve the secondary goal of reinforcing (in-)group relationships