WORLD HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -The “Mandate of Heaven” is an ancient Chinese philosophical concept, which originated during the Zhou Dynasty (1046-256 BCE). The Mandate determines whether an emperor of China is sufficiently virtuous to rule; if he does not fulfil his obligations as emperor, then he loses the Mandate and thus the right to be emperor.

Detailed explanation-2: -The right to rule is granted by Heaven. There is only one Heaven therefore there can be only one ruler. The right to rule is based on the virtue of the ruler. The right to rule is not limited to one dynasty.

Detailed explanation-3: -The Mandate of Heaven was the belief that the Chinese emperor had a divine right to rule given him by the god or divine force known as Heaven or Sky. The emperor had absolute power but also a responsibility to rule for the good of his people.

Detailed explanation-4: -tianming, Wade-Giles romanization t’ien ming (Chinese: “mandate of heaven”), in Chinese Confucian thought, the notion that heaven (tian) conferred directly upon an emperor, the son of heaven (tianzi), the right to rule. The doctrine had its beginnings in the early Zhou dynasty (c. 1046–256 bce).

Detailed explanation-5: -The Zhou used the concept of the Mandate of Heaven to justify their overthrow of the Shang Dynasty and to justify the rule of the Zhou Dynasty. Unlike the European concept of the “divine right” of kings, the Mandate of Heaven could be given to a person of common birth and could be lost.