The Mandate of Heaven is a Chinese concept appeared during the Zhou dynasty which made it possible to assert the legitimacy of the power of the Emperors of China. It was based on the approval which Heaven granted to wise and virtuous leaders, approval which it ceased to grant if they had bad behavior or were corrupt.
Subsequently, the concept made it possible to understand natural manifestations as messages from Heaven. Natural disasters were thus perceived as signs testifying to the disapproval of Heaven, which legitimized the people to rebel, so that a more virtuous dynasty was then entrusted with the Mandate of Heaven.
