As a popular Chinese saying goes, “If the name is not correct, the words will not ring true.” This book is about historical changes to population policy in the People’s Republic of China (hereafter the PRC), so the first thing we need is some sound explanation of key terms relating to policy. With reference to other scholarly research, together with my understanding of relevant concepts from my own research experience, policy is defined here as a set of action guidelines developed by a state or a political party in order to accomplish certain political aims or tasks, in certain political periods. The following sections present an overview analysis of population policies throughout Chinese history.