Shang culture: What kind of power did the clergy have in Shang history?

Clerical officials: In Shang Dynasty, some clerical officials, such as witches, were still an important political force. Witches are in charge of all sacred affairs, and all civil affairs should be painted with the color of sacred affairs, so witches can directly or indirectly dominate all military and state affairs.

Headed by a witch, there are full-time staff such as Zhu, Zong, Bu and Shi, forming a large-scale witchcraft organization. The extremely complicated affairs related to sacrifice are all managed by the organization after the witch.

Besides, everything, big or small, must be divined to predict good or bad luck and decide how to do it. There were many diviners and virgins in Shang Dynasty, who were in charge of divination. A large number of Oracle Bone Inscriptions unearthed in Yin Ruins are the divination records of the royal family in the late Shang Dynasty.