Revival of the «Tianxia» Concept in Historical Perspective: Ideological Reconstruction and Diplomatic Legitimation of the Chinese Vision of the World Order

Abstract

The article examines how the traditional Chinese concept of Tianxia («All Under Heaven») has been reinterpreted in contemporary Chinese political thought and incorporated into China's foreign policy discourse. The aim of the study is to determine how this classical moral and philosophical concept has been adapted to contemporary international realities and transformed into one of the normative instruments through which China justifies its vision of the international order. The methodological framework combines historical philosophical analysis, a comparative examination of different models of world order, and qualitative discourse analysis of the works of contemporary Chinese scholars, official documents, and major policy speeches by the leadership of the People's Republic of China. The analysis demonstrates that the contemporary interpretation of Tianxia does not imply a return to the traditional imperial system. Rather, it involves reinterpretation of selected elements of the classical concept in light of contemporary political conditions and global challenges. In this context, the emphasis shifts from a hierarchical organization of the world to the principles of interstate interconnectedness, harmonious coexistence, common development, mutual benefit, and shared responsibility for addressing global challenges. At the same time, the traditional logic has not been entirely abandoned. The modern interpretation of Tianxia retains elements of normative hierarchy, as China is portrayed as a state capable of providing normative guidance and conceptual approaches to the reform of the global governance system. The scientific novelty of the article lies in its comprehensive examination of the Tianxia concept at three interconnected levels: the classical philosophical tradition, contemporary academic interpretations, and the official diplomatic discourse of the People's Republic of China. This approach makes it possible to trace the continuity between the historical meaning of the concept and its contemporary political interpretation, while also identifying the mechanisms through which China's traditional intellectual heritage has been adapted to the objectives of its foreign policy. The study concludes that, under contemporary conditions, Tianxia functions primarily as a discursive and normative construct that provides the value-based foundation of China's approach to world order rather than as a fully developed institutional model for organizing international relations.