天命 is a term with deep cultural and philosophical roots. Its primary historical meaning is the 'Mandate of Heaven' (tiānmìng), the ancient Chinese political theory that heaven grants a ruler the right to rule, and can withdraw it if the ruler becomes unjust. In broader usage, it refers to destiny or fate — the idea that events are predetermined by a higher power. It can also denote one's natural lifespan, as in the phrase 天命已尽 ('one's allotted time is up'). The term appears in classical texts and modern discourse alike, carrying a sense of cosmic inevitability.