From Provincializing Tianxia to Constructing National Imperialism

This article examines the transformation of China’s global positioning from the late-Qing dynasty through a “Global South” perspective, focusing on its evolving relationship with the Nanyang (South Seas) region. It challenges dominant narratives of China’s modern history as a linear transition from Tianxia (All Under Heaven) to the nation-state, revealing instead a shift from “Provincializing Tianxia”to “Constructing National Imperialism.” The study critically enganges with intellectual discourses from key figures such as Wei Yuan, Liang Qichao, Yang Yunshi, and Yi Benxi, illustrating how early-Qing thinkers sought to integrate Nanyang into a strategic anti-colonial alliance, while later reformists and revolutionaries conceptualized it as China’s “natural colony.” By analyzing these shifting imaginaries, this article highlights the paradoxical coexistence of anti-colonialism and imperial aspirations in modern Chinese thought, contributing to a more nuanced understanding of China’s role in Global history.