Under the mandate of heaven who determined the Chinese rulers?
The Mandate of Heaven (天命, Tiānmìng) is an ancient Chinese philosophical concept that originated during the Zhou Dynasty (1046–256 BC). This concept held that the ruler (the emperor or king) was granted the right to rule from a divine source. According to this belief, Heaven (天, Tiān), which embodies moral order and the cosmos, bestows its mandate on a just ruler, the "Son of Heaven," and has the authority to take it away if the ruler fails to fulfill his duties or governs unjustly.
The determination of who held the Mandate of Heaven was not made by a specific individual or group but was believed to manifest through the natural order and the will of Heaven itself. Several criteria were seen as indicators of possessing or losing the Mandate:
1. Virtuous conduct and moral leadership.
2. Proper ritual observance.
3. Military success and ability to protect the state.
4. The general well-being and prosperity of the populace.
5. Natural disasters, famines, and social unrest were often interpreted as signs that the current ruler had lost the Mandate.
When a dynasty was overthrown through rebellion or conquest, and a new leader was established, it was retroactively considered a sign that the Mandate of Heaven had passed to the new ruler. This concept provided a justification for revolution and the transfer of power, as well as a means of legitimizing new rulers and dynasties. It also encouraged rulers to govern with benevolence and wisdom, as failure to do so could be seen as losing Heaven's favor and risking rebellion or invasion.
Throughout Chinese history, the Mandate of Heaven has played a crucial role in the legitimization of the ruling class and has been a central theme in political and historical discourse.