China is ever bigger in every respect, but it has next to nothing to offer by way of, say, philosophy. Confucius (551-479BC) is one of the rare exceptions. It is thus not surprising that Chinese leaders are now looking for a homegrown philosophy commensurate with its place in the world. In particular, they are looking for their own vision of international affairs. As you report, the notion of tianxia, or “all under heaven,” is now gaining momentum (“Nothing New Under Heaven,” June 18, 2011). It dates back to the golden age of classical Chinese philosophy dominated by Confucius, in the period of “warring states,” before the unification in 221 BC under the first Qin emperor. As you point out, tianxia is widely understood as a unified world dominated by one country, “to which neighbors and those beyond look for guidance and pay tribute.” The choice of such a country is entirely voluntary, too. Utopian as it is, this vision of universal harmony under the watchful eye of a superpower must be pleasing to China’s neighbors, as well as “those beyond.” The only trouble with tianxia is the ominous shadow of the first Qin emperor.