Final answer:
The Cultural Mandate is found in Genesis 1:28 of the Bible, where it instructs humanity to be fruitful, multiply, and have dominion over the earth. It is distinct from the Mandate of Heaven, a Chinese philosophical concept related to the legitimacy of rulers.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term Cultural Mandate is often understood by many as the directive given by God to humans in the book of Genesis within Christian theology. This mandate can be found at the beginning of the Bible in Genesis 1:28, which instructs humanity to be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it, giving the first humans authority over all creation. This concept is separate from the Mandate of Heaven, which is a Chinese philosophical concept that was used to justify the rule of the King or Emperor of China, as noted in historical texts like that of the Zhou dynasty.
It should be noted that some may confuse the Cultural Mandate with the Mandate of Heaven, which is a different concept altogether. The Mandate of Heaven suggests that a ruler's authority is granted by a divine source, reflected in the order and prosperity of the state. In contrast, the idea of a Cultural Mandate found in Scripture explicitly deals with the stewardship and cultivation of the earth and society by humanity.