The Construction of the Concept of the Mandate of Heaven during the Early Zhou Dynasty
The"Mandate of Heaven Theory"in the early Zhou Dynasty served as the ultimate basis for the legitimacy of its regime.It emerged in the context of the religious dilemmas and crises of faith at the end of the Shang Dynasty,utilizing the existing deity system and belief structures to initiate a religious reform movement that respected ancient traditions.The political legitimacy expressed in the form of"moral shame"was the initial driving force behind the construction of the"Mandate of Heaven"in early Zhou.The relationship between"Heavenly Mandate"and"royal authority"serves as the logical starting point for the construction of the"Mandate of Heaven Theory"in the early Zhou Dynasty,while the people's faith in"supreme ruler of heaven"constituted its practically effective foundation.Thus,based on the political tradition of"divine rule of kings,"the Zhou people replaced"ruler"with"Heaven",positioning"Heaven"above"ruler".Simultaneously,they referred to both"Heaven"and"ruler"as supreme deities,thereby achieving a synthesis and differentiation between"Heaven"and"ruler".This not only awakened public faith and reestablished the authority and credibility of the"Mandate of Heaven",but also created a unique belief structure that unified the concrete and abstract,blending indistinctly yet distinguishing between"Heaven"and"ruler".
Mandate of Heavenkingship legitimacymoral shamesupreme ruler of heaven
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