This term referred mainly to all the land under the name of the Son of Heaven
and the right to rule on such land. The ancient Chinese held that the rule of
senior officials was over their enfeoffed land, and that of dukes and princes was
over feudal states. The rule of the Son of Heaven was over all the land. Literally,
tianxia (天下) means "all under heaven." It actually refers to all the territory
embracing the enfeoffed land and feudal states under the rule or in the name of
the Son of Heaven, as well as all the subjects and the right to rule. The term has
later evolved to refer to the whole natin or the whole world.