Phrase guide

Mandate of Heaven

name · noun · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

name

Meaning 1

The philosophical construct that is the basis of the authority of the Son of Heaven.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

Any such mandate or blessing.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

The Chinese philosophical concept of the circumstances under which a ruler is allowed to rule. Good rulers would be allowed to rule with the Mandate of Heaven, and despotic, unjust rulers would have the Mandate revoked by disasters or revolution.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

The preeminence of an incumbent or institution other than that of the rulers of China.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: figuratively, humorous, often

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Calque of Literary Chinese 天命 (tiānmìng).

Across languages

Translations

9 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 天命 (tiānmìng) — any such mandate or blessing
  • Japanese: 天命 (tenmei) — any such mandate or blessing
  • Khmer: បញ្ជាទេព្ដា (bɑɑñciəteipdaa) — any such mandate or blessing
  • Khmer: អាណត្តិទេព្ដា (ʼaantteteipdaa) — any such mandate or blessing
  • Korean: 천명 (cheonmyeong) — any such mandate or blessing
  • Polish: Mandat Niebios — any such mandate or blessing
  • Tagalog: Mandato ng Langit — any such mandate or blessing
  • Thai: อาณัติแห่งสวรรค์ (aa-nát-hɛ̀ɛng-sà-wǎn) — any such mandate or blessing
  • Vietnamese: thiên mệnh — any such mandate or blessing