What is Mandate of Heaven?
The '''Mandate of Heaven''' (天命) was a Chinese political and religious [[doctrine]] used to justify the rule of the [[emperor of China]]. According to this belief, heaven (天, ''[[Tian]]'') stands for the natural order and will of the universe. Heaven will give a mandate to a [[justice|just ruler]], the [[Son of Heaven]]. If a ruler was overthrown, this was interpreted as an indication that the ruler was unworthy, and had lost the mandate. It was also a common belief that natural disasters such as famine and flood were signs of heaven's displeasure with the ruler, so there would often be revolts after major disasters as citizens saw these as signs that the Mandate of Heaven had been withdrawn.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Szczepanski|first1=Kallie|title=What Is the Mandate of Heaven in China?|url=http://asianhistory.about.com/od/ancientchina/f/What-Is-The-Mandate-Of-Heaven.htm|website=About Education|access-date=December 4, 2014|archive-date=October 8, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141008074327/http://asianhistory.about.com/od/ancientchina/f/What-Is-The-Mandate-Of-Heaven.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> Mandate of Heaven does not require a [[legitimacy|legitimate]] ruler to be of noble birth, and dynasties such as the [[Han dynasty|Han]] and [[Ming dynasty|Ming dynasties]] were founded by men of common origins. The Mandate of Heaven had no time limitations, depending instead on the just and able performance of the rulers and their heirs. The concept is in some ways similar to the European concept of the [[divine right of kings]]; however, unlike the European concept, it does not confer an unconditional right to rule. The concept of Mandate of Heaven also included the [[right of rebellion]] against an unjust ruler. Chinese historians interpreted a successful revolt as evidence that Heaven had withdrawn its mandate from the ruler. Throughout [[history of China|Chinese history]], times of [[poverty]] and [[natural disasters]] were often taken as signs that heaven considered the current ruler unjust and in need