The Mandate of Heaven is a Chinese political and religious doctrine used since ancient times to justify the rule of the Emperor. It was first introduced by the Zhou Dynasty to justify their overthrow of the Shang. According to this belief, Heaven (Tian) grants the right to rule to a just leader—the 'Son of Heaven.' Unlike the European 'Divine Right of Kings,' the Mandate was not an unconditional right. If a ruler became corrupt, cruel, or failed to provide for the people, Heaven would withdraw its support. Natural disasters, famines, and peasant revolts were seen as signs that the Mandate had been lost, providing a legitimate reason for a new dynasty to seize power. This concept created a cyclical pattern in Chinese history known as the 'Dynastic Cycle' and emphasized the moral responsibility of the state toward its subjects.