How did Wu wang used the Mandate of Heaven?

Answer 1

Wu Wang, the founder of the Zhou Dynasty, utilized the Mandate of Heaven to legitimize his overthrow of the Shang Dynasty. He claimed that the Shang had lost the mandate due to their corruption and immoral rule, thus justifying his rebellion. By presenting his rise as a restoration of virtue and order, Wu Wang not only secured his authority but also laid the philosophical groundwork for future rulers to assert their legitimacy through moral governance. This concept reinforced the idea that rulers must govern justly to maintain their divine right to rule.