PRESENTATION OUTLINE
The Mandate of Heaven is an ancient Chinese philosophical concept. The Mandate of Heaven decides whether an emperor is virtuous enough to rule. If he doesn't fulfill his ruling obligations, he loses the Mandate and the right to be ruler.
The four principles of the Mandate of Heaven are:
-Heaven grants the emperor the right to rule
-Since there is only one heaven, there can only be one emperor
-Virtue determines the right to rule
-No one dynasty has a permanent right to rule
After Zhu Yuanzang overthrew the Mongol Yuan dynasty, he needed to legitimize his action. To do so, he said that the Mandate of Heaven had chosen him. That meant that he was granted the right to be the new ruler of China. Zhu, the new emperor, launched social programs to rebuild the empire. With this he showed to be an emperor that cared for his people, meaning that he could keep the Mandate.
The Mandate of Heaven is the idea that Heaven rules earth indirectly, through a Son of Heaven, i.e. the emperor. As Heaven rules through him, his personal moral quality dictates the condition of the society that he rules. His virtue decides whether Heaven will be kind to earth, or send signs that the emperor needs to be removed.
The ruler is to ensure prosperity in China with his virtue. If something like a drought, famine, or a peasant uprising happens, it is blamed on a lack of virtue in the emperor. If he fails to amend the problem(s), the people consider it to be within their rights to rebel.
The ruler must show love for his people, or the people he rules have the right to overthrow him.
Test Question:
If _________ happens, it may be a sign that the emperor has lost the Mandate.
The answer is drought, famine, or a peasant uprising.
