Tianxia and the Polis: a comparative and historical epistemology of Guanxi

Abstract This paper develops an epistemological framework for understanding guanxi . Moving beyond a purely methodological construct, it examines the ethical foundations of guanxi , its dual subjective responses to universalistic and particularistic moral obligations, and its intersubjective role in negotiating uncertainty. The paper argues that guanxi represents a reflexive force through which social life becomes capable of reflection, and also contrasts the tianxia worldview with the Greek conception of the polis , thereby illuminating their divergent yet potentially complementary approaches to the recurring entanglement of rationality and theology throughout human history. Rather than treating guanxi as mere instrumentality or a cultural peculiarity, this analysis emphasizes its grounding in virtue ethics, intersubjectivity, and lived practice. It argues that guanxi constitutes an irreducible concept essential to comparative social theory. By undertaking an epistemological inquiry into guanxi , this study attempts to open new pathways for dialogue on the foundations of human interaction and calls for a re-engagement with the legacy of classical (Chinese) sociology.