Social Sciences in China (Chinese Edition)

No. 2, 2025

Which Country is Situated at the Center of the Earth? The Controversy among Three Teachings in Medieval China and Cultural Orthodoxy

(Abstract)

Han Jishao and Zhang Lujun

The concept of the center of the Earth (Zhongguo) is a fundamental notion in Chinese civilization. From antiquity to the Han Dynasty, it evolved from a geographical concept into a symbolic representation of civilization and cultural orthodoxy. During the medieval period, the introduction of Buddhist perspectives on “Central Country” to China challenged traditional Chinese interpretations. Confucianism and Daoism engaged in prolonged debates with Buddhism over the center of the Earth, while Daoism further developed theoretical frameworks centered on “Zhongguo,” playing a proactive role in safeguarding Chinese intellectual beliefs and orthodox concepts. With the decline of Buddhism in India, breakthroughs in the Sinicization of Buddhism, and the rejuvenation of Chinese culture, disputes over “Zhongguo” gradually subsided during the Tang Dynasty, and the cultural legitimacy of the Chinese concept was consolidated. The medieval debates among the three teachings regarding “Zhongguo” offer valuable insights into how local cultures can maintain independent development when confronted with external cultural challenges.