Final answer:
The Mandate of Heaven was a concept in Chinese history used to justify the overthrow of corrupt or inefficient rulers. It was believed to be an approval from the heavens that can be removed if the rulers failed to maintain just and moral governance. This concept enabled the shifting of power between different dynasties throughout the course of Chinese history.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Mandate of Heaven was a significant aspect of Chinese history and was used to justify the overthrow of bad governments and corrupt rulers. Based on this concept, it was believed that in order to rule, a ruling house had to demonstrate morality and order to retain heaven's favor. The mandate could be rescinded if a ruler failed to promote the welfare of the commoners thereby losing their support. Natural disasters, social unrest, or a decline in societal welfare were seen as signs that a dynasty was losing its favor from heaven.
Throughout history, this concept has facilitated the transition between several Chinese dynasties. For instance, the Zhou victory and Shang defeat are seen as proof of the transfer of the Mandate of Heaven. Similarly, when the Mongol rulers of the Yuan dynasty faced revolts, it was construed as a sign that their Mandate was rescinded and thus, it allowed for the rise of the Ming dynasty.
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