The Mandate of Heaven was a key philosophical and political principle in ancient Chinese governance that justified the rule of the emperor. It posited that heaven granted the right to rule based on the virtue and competency of the leader, meaning that a dynasty could lose its legitimacy and be overthrown if it became corrupt or failed to fulfill its responsibilities to the people. This concept not only provided a divine rationale for the authority of the emperor but also held him accountable to moral standards and the well-being of his subjects.
write a 1-3 sentence how does the concept of the Mandate of Heaven function in ancient Chinese government?
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