The Chinese doctrine, originating with the Zhou dynasty and developed by Mencius, that Heaven grants the right to rule to the virtuous and withdraws it from rulers who govern badly, as shown by the people's acceptance or rejection.
In more detail
The Zhou founders justified overthrowing the Shang by claiming that Heaven had transferred its mandate to them because of their virtue. Mencius argued that Heaven reveals its will through the people's acceptance of a ruler, ranked the people above the ruler, and held that a tyrant forfeits the standing of a king. The doctrine made legitimacy conditional on performance, but it gave no institutional procedure for judging rulers and could legitimise any successful rebellion after the fact.