The word 革命 is formed by combining two conceptual ideas: 革 (gé), which carries the ancient meaning of "removing animal hide" and thus fundamentally "changing" or "overthrowing", and 命 (mìng), meaning "mandate", "decree", or "destiny". Together, they create a powerful metaphor meaning "to change the mandate". This originates from the ancient Chinese concept of the "Mandate of Heaven", where a corrupt dynasty's mandate could be justly overturned. Thus, the term conceptually signifies a fundamental, often violent, transformation of the existing political or social order, literally the act of seizing and reshaping destiny itself.