18/11/03 20:05:39.70 qEoXO2X2.net
In continuing to worship the Ming emperors as they did, the Qing were asserting the legitimacy of the entire system that dictated who could “rightfully” be an emperor of China, because in fact it was
this system that allowed them to present themselves to the populace as
“Sons of Heaven” rather than as conquering foreigners who had no legitimate claim over China.