The Chinese believed that the Earth was a flat square surrounded by the 4 seas, with China at the very centre. This belief was based on the geocentric world view, which was the prevailing cosmological model at the time. The geocentric world view held that the Earth was the centre of the universe, with the sun, moon, and stars all revolving around it. This belief was supported by the apparent daily motion of the sun across the sky, as well as the fact that the Earth appeared to be stationary.
The Chinese geocentric world view was also influenced by their religious beliefs. The Chinese believed that the Earth was the home of the gods, and that the emperor of China was the son of heaven. This belief reinforced the idea that China was the centre of the universe, and that the Chinese people were the most favoured of all peoples.
The geocentric world view was not unique to China. It was also held by many other cultures, including the Greeks, Romans, and Indians. However, the Chinese were particularly attached to this belief, and it had a profound impact on their culture and worldview.