Religion of the Predynastic and Western Zhou information
Religious beliefs and practices of the early Zhou dynasty
Religion of the Predynastic and Western Zhou
Western Zhou depiction of Tiān, the central focus in Zhou religion.
Theology
Ancestral deification Shamanism Worship of Shāng deities
Language
Old Chinese
Territory
Predynastic Zhou Western Zhou
Origin
c. 13th century BCE – 771 BCE
The religion of the Predynastic and Western Zhou was a complex set of religious beliefs and activities adhered to by the early Zhou dynasty in China (c. 13th century BCE – 771 BCE). Strongly influenced by the Shang dynasty's religion, it developed gradually throughout the Predynastic Zhou period and flourished during the Western Zhou period. The religion was characterized by inscriptions on bronze and oracle bones, detailed texts on rituals and divination, and the complex religious sites and institutions referred to in such writings.
The Zhou believed in a supreme deity similar to that of the Shang dynasty's Shàngdì, and named their god Tiān. Tiān was the center of the Mandate of Heaven, which was the source of kingly authority granted by divine will on Zhou rulers. Additionally, the Zhou held strong beliefs in the power of ancestors, who, as Western Zhou bronze inscriptions reveal, were seen as deities dwelling in Heaven. Some elements of the previous Shang beliefs was adopted, especially Shàngdì, who was somewhat conflated with Tiān. Divination by oracle bones was prevalent during the final years of Predynastic Zhou, corresponding with the late Shang period, and divination continued to exist during the Western Zhou with the compilation of the Classic of Changes. Rituals such as sacrifices remained important throughout the Western Zhou period, influencing the later Eastern Zhou's religious activities.
Studies of religion during this period often make use of bronze inscriptions, which were contemporary to the events they describe. Many bronze inscriptions document activities such as sacrifices, done by the Zhou kings. Aside from documentary sources, modern knowledge also comes from excavations of early Zhou sites, including the predynastic settlements in modern-day Shaanxi and early dynastic capitals. Together, they help augment findings about this ancient period in Chinese religious history.
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ThePredynasticZhou or Proto-Zhou (/dʒoʊ/; Chinese: 先周) refers to the state ofZhou that existed in the Guanzhong region of modern Shaanxi province during...
millennia, many elements ofthe ancient religion were reflected in the later religious system oftheZhou dynasty, as well as the systems of imperial China (221 BC –...
history. During theWesternZhou period (c. 1046 – 771 BC), the royal house, surnamed Ji, had military control over ancient China. Even as Zhou suzerainty...
parallel between Shang andZhou adoptions. Historically, the regency ofthe Duke ofZhou sought to re-stabilize theZhou dynasty. TheZhou court modeled their...
during the second millennium BC, traditionally succeeding the Xia dynasty and followed by theWesternZhou dynasty. The classic account ofthe Shang comes...
BC; a period that begins with the Erlitou culture and ends abruptly with the disintegration ofWesternZhou rule. The Sanxingdui culture is another Chinese...
emphasizing the importance of ancestors still have profound impacts on Chinese folk religions. TheZhou dynasty blamed Di Xin of Shang for being impious and cruel...
to as thePredynasticZhou or Proto-Zhou. Similarly, the state of Qin that existed during theZhou dynasty before its wars of unification andthe establishment...
successful. PredynasticZhou did not actually participate in any expansion schemes of Wu Ding, and they also did not show discontent with the court (oracle...
Dictionary of Modern China (1800–1949). Scarecrow Press. ISBN 978-0-8108-6308-8. Xinzhong Yao; Yanxia Zhao (2010). "Timeline for Chinese Religion". Chinese...
throughout Europe andthe Ancient Near East until the spread of Christianity in Late Antiquity, and continue in some cultures or religions today. Human sacrifice...
(386–221 BC) – Ruled by the House of Gui (媯) of Huaxia descent PredynasticZhou (先周（ㄒㄧㄢ ㄓㄡ）) (?–1046 BC) – Ruled by the House of Ji (姬) of Huaxia descent Shao...
that remain among the most eagerly sought-after exhibits by visitors to the museum. Highlights ofthe collections include: Predynasticand Early Dynastic...
beliefs, particularly Daoist and Confucian, and later incorporated Buddhist teachings. Thereligionofthe Shang andPredynasticZhou were predominately shamanistic...
government and empires, organized religionand organized warfare. It also saw the creation ofthe first writing system, the first alphabet (abjad), the first...
needed] The origin ofthe flag is unknown and it remains unclear when the first flag was raised. Ships with vexilloids were represented on predynastic Egyptian...
arose from the Uruk period andPredynastic Egypt respectively at approximately 3000BCE. Early dynastic Egypt was based around the Nile River in the north-east...
While large tools underwent a history of redesigns and changes, smaller adzes remained constant since thePredynastic Period. Such small adzes were used...
impacted the Nile andthePredynastic societies dependent on it. The southern Aegean, Libya andthe Middle Atlas became gradually more dry, and drying in...
date from the 1st century AD.[citation needed] The earliest known hieroglyphs are about 5,200 years old, such as the clay labels of a Predynastic ruler called...
determinism. For the history of humanity's influence on the environment, and humanity's perspective on this influence, see timeline of history of environmentalism...
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