self-proclaimed

"A person become the emperor who receives the mandate of heaven.　
Only he receives an obligation to govern this world from heaven."　

Before the Qin dynasty established，there wasn’t word ”the emperor” of course.
But this way of thinking.
It seems to have been in existence since long time ago.

The time of the Zhou dynasty founding，king was only one of the Zhou king of course.

But Time progresses, the power of the Zhou king became weaker and weaker.
Power of the lords was increased in inverse proportion with it.

In the end, lords began to holding one's ground in the power of their own.
The rule of the Zhou king became a thing in name only.

But king was the only Zhou king even at that time.
Lords had still respect the authority of the Zhou king.


・・・・・・・・・


Range of China(Chūka) has expanded already.
Peoples to participate in China other than the vassals of the Zhou Dynasty.
They came out.

It was the Chu and Qin.

Chu is the people of the Yangtze River basin of the south of the Yellow River.
(middle area)

And Qin located basin of Wei River of tributary of upstream of the Yellow River.

"They are 夷."
Initially, they seem to have been neglected like that from other lords for this reason.
　
"Yes，we are 夷.
So we are not required to follow the China customs.
I'm king."
They were self-proclaimed like that.
　
"A person become the king who receives the mandate of heaven.　
Only he receives an obligation to govern this world from heaven."　
　
At this point，this concept might have been enhanced.

"Survival of the fittest."

But after this most lords were self-proclaimed "King".　
China become the Warring States period in earnest from here.
Thereafter,meaning of the king of China may have altered.　
　
Confucius lived the era of that turning point.