The Mandate of Heaven is a concept deeply ingrained in traditional Chinese philosophy. It refers to the ancient belief that Heaven granted an emperor the right to rule over his people, and that his legitimacy depended on his ability to govern justly and effectively. In Chinese, the term for Mandate of Heaven is Tianming, which can be translated in a variety of ways. Some synonyms for Tianming include "divine right," "heavenly decree," "imperial edict," or "divine mandate." Regardless of what term is used, the concept of the Mandate of Heaven remains central to understanding the historical and cultural foundations of Imperial China.