Which dynasty was known for using the Mandate of Heaven to justify its rule?

The Zhou Dynasty is recognized for being the first to extensively employ the concept of the Mandate of Heaven to legitimize its authority. This philosophical and political doctrine asserted that heaven granted emperors the right to rule based on their virtue and ability to govern. If a ruler became unjust or failed to fulfill their duties, it was believed that they could lose this mandate, justifying rebellion against them.

The Zhou established this ideology to legitimize their overthrow of the Shang Dynasty, arguing that the Shang had lost the support of heaven due to their tyranny and moral failings. This set a precedent in Chinese political thought, influencing dynastic legitimacy for centuries thereafter. The idea of the Mandate of Heaven became a recurring theme throughout subsequent Chinese history in justifying the rise and fall of dynasties, indicating that it played a foundational role in the political philosophy of the Zhou Dynasty specifically.