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Religion of the Shang dynasty
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The state religion of the Shang dynasty (c. 1600 – c. 1046 BC) involved trained practitioners communicating with deified beings, including deceased ancestors and supernatural gods. Means of communication with the spirits consist of written divinations on oracle bones and sacrifice of living beings. The Shang dynasty also had large-scale constructions of tombs,[2] which reflects their belief in the afterlife, along with sacred places. Numerous Shang vessels, as well as oracle bones, have been excavated in the kingdom's capital Yin.[3][4] These archaeological discoveries facilitate understandings of Shang religious beliefs and practices through a large amount of evidence.[5] Headed by the exalted Dì, the deities formed a pantheon.[6]
Religion of the Shang dynasty | |
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![]() An ox scapula inscribed with the results of divination.[1] | |
Type | Polytheistic religion |
Theology | |
Region | Yellow River valley |
Language | Old Chinese |
The Shang kingdom's religion, which played an important role to royal adherents, accounted for a significant portion of court life. Their deities consistently received various honorary ceremonies. For this, Shang astronomers created a sophisticated calendrical system based on a sixty-day revolution.[7] Complying with the calendar, royal adherents of the religion conducted liturgical rituals dedicated to those spirits. Regional estates maintained independent practitioners but worshipped the same deities for common purposes. Those acts of worship, which were formalized over time, were held for divine fortune along with prosperity of the late Shang state.[8]
The Shang religion originated in the Yellow River valley, heartland of the Chinese civilization from about 1600 to 1046 BC.[lower-alpha 1] It was the first thoroughly documented Chinese religion, with the first Shang bone texts dating back to c. 1250 BC,[10][11] during the reign of Wu Ding (c. 1250 – c. 1200 BC) and over 1000 years before the end of ancient China in 221 BC.[12][13][14][15] Throughout over two centuries, this dynasty increased its cultural influence and experienced cultural exchanges by means of war. After 1046 BC, the Zhou dynasty, which replaced the Shang,[16][17] gradually assimilated elements of Dì into its governing beliefs.[18][19] Over the following millennia, many elements of the ancient religion were reflected in the later religious system of the Zhou dynasty, as well as the systems of imperial China (221 BC – 1912 AD). Today, Shàngdì remains an important figure in Chinese culture, and the initially religious calendar is still indispensable in traditional events of China and influenced countries.