The first Chinese ruler to claim his position and authority came directly from Heaven, which was for the Zhouthe supreme divine force, was King Wen of Zhou, the pre-dynastic fe… See more

Ancient Chinese historians would also later say that only because of the moral … See more

Although the early rulers of the Qin state during the Warring States period claimed to have inherited the mantle of Heaven's representatives from the Zhou, later rulers such as Ch… See more

Finally, although the emperor remained a hugely influential figure and retained such rights as awarding appointments and giving favours, punishments and pardons, his policies we… See more