<P> Son of Heaven, or Tian Zi (Chinese: 天子; pinyin: Tiānzǐ), was the sacred imperial title of the Chinese emperor . It originated with the ancient Zhou Dynasty and was founded on the political and spiritual doctrine of the Mandate of Heaven . The secular imperial title of the Son of Heaven was "Emperor of China". </P> <P> The title, "Son of Heaven", was subsequently adopted by other East Asian monarchs to justify their rule . </P> <P> The Son of Heaven was the supreme universal emperor, who ruled tianxia ("all under heaven"). His status is rendered in English as "ruler of the whole universe" or "ruler of the whole world ." The title, "Son of Heaven", was interpreted literally only in China and Japan, whose monarchs were referred to as demigods, deities, or "living gods", chosen by all the ancient gods and goddesses . </P> <P> The title "Son of Heaven" stems from the concept of the Mandate of Heaven, created by the Zhou Dynasty monarchs to justify their having deposed the Shang Dynasty . They held that Heaven had revoked its mandate from the Shang and given it to the Zhou in retribution for Shang corruption and misrule . Heaven bestowed the mandate on whomever was most fit to rule . The title held the emperor responsible for the prosperity and security of his people by the threat of taking away his mandate . </P>

What did the son of heaven concept promote