<P> The Mandate of Heaven or Tian Ming ( Chinese : 天命 ; pinyin : Tiānmìng ; Wade -- Giles : T'ien - ming ) is a Chinese political and religious doctrine used since ancient times to justify the rule of the Emperor of China . According to this belief , heaven ( 天 , Tian ) -- which embodies the natural order and will of the universe -- bestows the mandate on a just ruler of China , the `` Heavenly Son '' of the `` Celestial Empire '' . If a ruler was overthrown , this was interpreted as an indication that the ruler was unworthy , and had lost the mandate . It was also a common belief that natural disasters such as famine and flood were signs of heaven 's displeasure with the ruler , so there would often be revolts following major disasters as citizens saw these as signs that the Mandate of Heaven had been withdrawn . </P>
<P> The Mandate of Heaven or Tian Ming ( Chinese : 天命 ; pinyin : Tiānmìng ; Wade -- Giles : T'ien - ming ) is a Chinese political and religious doctrine used since ancient times to justify the rule of the Emperor of China . According to this belief , heaven ( 天 , Tian ) -- which embodies the natural order and will of the universe -- bestows the mandate on a just ruler of China , the `` Heavenly Son '' of the `` Celestial Empire '' . If a ruler was overthrown , this was interpreted as an indication that the ruler was unworthy , and had lost the mandate . It was also a common belief that natural disasters such as famine and flood were signs of heaven 's displeasure with the ruler , so there would often be revolts following major disasters as citizens saw these as signs that the Mandate of Heaven had been withdrawn . </P>
which classical civilization is associated with the concept of the mandate of heaven
which classical civilization is associated with the concept of the mandate of heaven
China
China