The Dynastic Cycle: The concept of `推翻` is deeply woven into the fabric of Chinese history. For thousands of years, China was governed by a series of dynasties. The historical narrative is one of a “Dynastic Cycle,” where a new dynasty rises, rules wisely, becomes corrupt, and is then eventually overthrown (推翻) by a rebellion, leading to a new dynasty. This was justified by the philosophical concept of the “Mandate of Heaven” (天命, Tiānmìng), which held that a just ruler had divine approval, but a corrupt one could have that mandate revoked by the people, who had the right to `推翻` them.
Comparison to Western “Revolution”: In the West, “revolution” often implies a radical, linear break from the past, aiming to establish a brand-new ideology (e.g., the French Revolution's “Liberty, Equality, Fraternity”). While `推翻` can be part of a revolution, its cultural baggage in China is more cyclical. It can feel like a necessary, almost natural, part of restoring order by removing a corrupt power, rather than creating a completely new world order. In modern political discourse, discussing the `推翻` of the current government is extremely sensitive and is treated as a call for subversion.