The Zhou dynasty explained the transfer of the mandate of heaven between dynasties through the concept of the "Mandate of Heaven," which was based on the belief that the ruling dynasty was chosen by the heavens to rule with virtuous leadership. According to this belief, if a ruler became corrupt or lost the support of the people, the mandate of heaven would be withdrawn from that dynasty and transferred to a new ruling house that demonstrated virtuous leadership. This transfer of the mandate of heaven was seen as a way for the heavens to ensure that the ruler was governing in accordance with the will of the gods and the well-being of the people.
