Mandate of Heaven

Meanings

Proper Noun

• The philosophical construct that is the basis of the authority of the Son of Heaven.

Noun

• Any such mandate or blessing.
• The Chinese philosophical concept of the circumstances under which a ruler is allowed to rule. Good rulers would be allowed to rule with the Mandate of heaven, and despotic, unjust rulers would have the Mandate revoked.

Origin

• Translation of the Literary Chinese 天命