Zhou rulers claimed that they had won the mandala of heaven because they
were chosen by the gods and had the divine right to rule. They believed that they had the support and favor of the heavenly deities, which conferred legitimacy and authority upon their rule. This belief was further bolstered by their successful military campaigns and conquests, which they attributed to divine intervention.
Furthermore, the Zhou rulers established a system of rituals and ceremonies to maintain their connection with the gods and ensure their continued support. They performed elaborate religious ceremonies, made sacrifices, and consulted oracle bones to communicate with the divine realm. These rituals served to reinforce their claim of heavenly mandate and reinforced their perceived legitimacy as rulers.
The concept of heaven and the mandate of heaven played a central role in the political ideology of the Zhou Dynasty. It provided a justification for their rule and helped to maintain stability by creating a belief in a higher power that sanctioned and supervised their reign. As long as the Zhou rulers successfully upheld their moral and ethical obligations and maintained harmony within their kingdom, the mandate of heaven would remain with them. If they were unable to do so, natural disasters, rebellions, and other calamities were seen as signs of divine disapproval, indicating that the mandate had been withdrawn and a new ruler would take their place.