Mandate of Heaven
English
Etymology
Translation of the Literary Chinese 天命 (tiānmìng)
Proper noun
- The philosophical construct that is the basis of the authority of the Son of Heaven.
Noun
Mandate of Heaven (plural Mandates of Heaven)
- 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 by disasters or revolution.
Translations
any such mandate or blessing
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