Early Chinese believed the heavens revealed portents of good or bad fortune, and the Emperor, called "The Son of Heaven," had to refer closely to the motions of the heavenly bodies in governing.
中國古人認為，天是具有人格、有意志且能行賞罰的人類主宰，故而「天垂象，見吉凶」﹘﹘天所示的任何異象，都是對人間的警告，自命為「天之子」的帝王，必須密切注意上天的一舉一動，做為施政參考。