Rooted in the classical doctrine of
天人感应 (tiānrén gǎnyìng, 'cosmic resonance between Heaven and humanity') formalized by Han-dynasty thinker Dong Zhongshu
董仲舒. Natural disasters, eclipses, and famines were read as Heaven rebuking the emperor — and emperors actually issued
罪己诏 (self-blaming edicts) in response.
