Sinocentrism facts for kids

Sinocentrism is the belief that China is the cultural center of the world.

Overview and context

Depending on the historical context, sinocentrism can refer to either the ethnocentrism of the Han society and culture, or the modern concept of zhonghua minzu. The concept was popular among the Chinese elites up to the final demise of Qing dynasty. The concept came to an end in 19th century and suffered several more blows in 20th century, and as a result is not as widely popular among Chinese people in the present day.

In pre-modern times, it often took the form of viewing China as the most advanced civilization in the world, and external ethnic groups or foreign nations as being uncivilized to various degrees, a distinction known in Chinese as the Hua–Yi distinction.

Images for kids

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  Another rendering of the foreign relations of Imperial China. The center nations are tributary states, known as 小中華 (Little China (Sojunghwa)), which incorporate the centermost 大中華 (Big China).

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  The various levels of administrative influence of Imperial China.