Xue Fucheng, Qing's ambassador to Britain in the latter half of the 19th century, said that "Tenka" based on "kai kakuzetsu" (distinction between the Chinese and barbarians) changed to "Tenka" based on "chugai renzoku" (cooperation between China and foreign countries) under which China and foreign countries maintain the relations on an equal basis.
19世紀後半の清の駐英大使であった薛福成は中華と夷狄を区別する「華夷隔絶」の「天下」から中華と外国が対等に関係を維持する「中外連属」の「天下」へと転換したと述べている。