Mandate of Heaven

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English

Etymology

Calque of Literary Chinese 天命 (tiānmìng).

Proper noun

the Mandate of Heaven

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

Noun

Mandate of Heaven (plural Mandates of Heaven)

  1. Any such mandate or blessing.
  2. 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.
  3. (figurative, often humorous) The preeminence of an incumbent or institution other than that of the rulers of China.

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