In recent times, the “Zongfan” framework has emerged as a significant subject for elucidating China's premodern foreign relations. This framework accentuates the hierarchical association between China and its neighboring states, tracing its historical origins to the patriarchal clan system of the Western Zhou period. Originally proposed by a cohort of diplomatic historians led by Tingfu Tsiang during the 1920s and 1930s, this notion gained prominence during the 1950s and 1970s within Taiwanese scholarly investigations of Sino-Korean relations. Subsequently, mainland China embarked on comprehensive research concerning the premodern Chinese global order during the 1990s, wherein the discourse of ‘Zongfan relations/Zongfanism’ was explored as one of the theoretical frameworks. Nevertheless, the comprehension and scope of ‘Zongfan’ have undergone evolutionary changes over time. Although the term ‘Zongfan’ surfaced during the Song Dynasty, it was not employed to delineate foreign relations. Criticized for projecting Western colonialist ideals, the abbreviated ‘Zongfan’, signifying suzerain and vassal states, has been subjected to critical analysis. While not a prevailing theory within Chinese scholarship, it has gained renewed attention recently due to China's ascendancy, its scrutiny of Western paradigms, and the emergence of concepts such as the Chinese Dream, Belt and Road Initiative, and Community of Civilizations. Some contend that the revival of the hierarchical “Zongfan” framework aligns with China's hegemonic conduct. The genesis and shaping of China's “Zongfan” discourse, which actively responds to external influences, offer insights into this phenomenon within the broader context of world history.