Download The Mandate of Heaven

Name:__________________________ Date:__________________ Assignment #:___
The Mandate of Heaven
This is the most important concept to master in order to understand the dynasties of China.
The Chou (Zhou) Dynasty augmented this concept to help justify their ousting of the
Shang Dynasty.
The Mandate of Heaven is based on four principles:
1.
2.
3.
4.
The right to rule is granted by _________________.
There is only one Heaven, therefore there can be only one ruler.
The right to rule is based on the virtue of the _________________.
The right to rule is not limited to one _______________.
Word Bank
Ruler
Heaven
Dynasty
What are the positive and negatives sides to the Mandate of Heaven for a dynasty?
Positives
Negatives
1.
1.
2.
1.
The Dynastic Cycle in China
The New
Dynasty
After several
generations, the
new dynasty
becomes an aging
dynasty.
New Dynasty
Claims the
Mandate of
Heaven.
The Aging
Dynasty
4.
Problems
1. Peasant
rebellions and
riots
2. Floods, famines
and
earthquakes
3. Armed bandits
4. Invasions
Aging
Dynasty
loses the
Mandate of
Heaven.