The concept of 起义 (qǐyì) is fundamental to understanding Chinese history and the political philosophy of the “Mandate of Heaven” (天命, Tiānmìng). This ancient belief held that a ruler's right to rule was granted by a divine power, but it was not unconditional. If an emperor and his government became corrupt, oppressive, or incompetent—leading to famine, disaster, and suffering—it was believed they had lost the Mandate of Heaven. A widespread peasant 起义 (qǐyì) was often interpreted as the ultimate sign that the rulers had lost this mandate. The leaders of a successful 起义 were not seen as mere traitors but as instruments of Heaven's will, destined to establish a new, more virtuous dynasty. This created a cyclical pattern in Chinese history: a new dynasty rises, prospers, becomes corrupt, loses the Mandate, is overthrown by a 起义, and a new dynasty begins. Comparison to Western “Revolution”: A 起义 (qǐyì) can be compared to the concept of a “revolt” or “uprising” in the West, but it differs from a “revolution” (`革命 gémìng`). A 起义 is often a specific event—the first shot, the key battle, the initial mass rebellion. A `革命` (revolution) is the entire, often prolonged, process of fundamental societal and political change. For example, the Wuchang Uprising (武昌起义) was the single event that sparked the Xinhai Revolution (辛亥革命), which ultimately toppled the entire Qing dynasty system.