Sacrificial Culture in The Book of Songs

The sacrificial culture in The Book of Songs originated from primitive society and lasted until the Zhou Dynasty. As China's first poetry collection, The Book of Songs has a wide range of contents. With rich life content and a wide range of creative themes, it shows the historical features of Yin Shang society and even ancient society. Among them, sacrificial poems are unique, with strong religious flavor and distinctive ideological characteristics, reflecting rich cultural connotations. Sacrificial poems in The Book of Songs refer to those poems that praise gods, ancestors and pray for disaster in sacrificial activities. The contents of the performance include offering sacrifices to mountains and rivers, and offering sacrifices to the god of agriculture. , but more are poems to worship ancestors. Their outstanding features are strong religious concepts and distinct political purposes, as well as vague descriptions of ancestors and gods, which show that people trace their roots and turn tradition into a kind of survival ability.

Of the 3 1 poems in Ode to Zhou, 2 1 poems directly describe or are related to sacrifice, and 14 poems are dedicated to ancestors. There are 8 sacrificial poems in Daya, including 5 sacrificial poems. It can be seen that Zhou people paid more attention to their ancestors than all kinds of gods. Ceremony? Sacrifice righteousness "cloud:? The founding throne, the right country left temple. ? In the pre-Qin era, the ancients often respected the left. It is recorded in "Xinlingjun steals the symbol to save Zhao" that Xinlingjun will use it when welcoming Hou to win. Virtual left? Show reverence and piety to Hou Ying. ? Right country, left ancestral temple? It shows that Zhou people value ancestors more than the god of the country.

Sacrificial poems are mostly directed at ancestors, which are derived from the worship of ancestors and are divided into two aspects: respecting ancestors and respecting ancestors. All fathers are called above fathers? Joe? The seventh hall of the emperor's ancestors, that is, six generations under one roof, is dedicated to the ancestors of his grandfather. ? Zong? It is also the name of ancestor worship. Duke of Zhou worshiped King Wen by worshipping his father with his son, that is, his ancestor Yue Zong, who was derived from his ancestors and sacrificed to him. It is not accidental that ancestors became the most sacrificial objects, but the inevitable result of the development of social politics and people's ideology in Zhou Dynasty. Sacrificial poems originated from ancestor worship. At the beginning of the establishment of the Zhou Dynasty, ancestor worship played an important role in inheriting the blood clan system, maintaining internal unity, condensing clan power and strengthening clan rule, which was the most basic starting point and purpose of sacrificial poems.

Many poems offering sacrifices to ancestors in The Book of Songs reflect the unique culture of offering sacrifices and have distinct political purposes, mainly serving to strengthen and consolidate the ruling position of rulers, and secondly promoting filial piety and enhancing the cohesion of family and tribe members.

1 1 has a distinct political purpose and serves to consolidate its ruling position.

There are two obvious characteristics in Zhou people's ancestor worship poems: one is to preach that God authorizes the rule of the world. "Zhou Wei? Heaven has a destiny:? Heaven has a destiny, and then it is accepted. ? Heaven is heaven and god; Life is life; The second refers to King Wen and King Wu. In other words, the reason why King Wen and King Wu rule the world is that God authorized them to do so, which is God's will. " Zhou Wei? Competition:? For the king of Wu, there is no dispute. Without Chengkang, God is the emperor. ? It is said that King Kang was also authorized by heaven to rule the world. "Zhou Wei? Respect ":? Respect it, respect it! Tianwei xiansi! Life is not easy! ? This is what a king says when he rules himself, that is, being the ruling class according to God's will is very hard and not easy. "Zhou Wei? Huan:? Sui wanbang Many bumper years. The fate of the bandits will be solved. ? This means that Wang Chengtian ruled the world and worked tirelessly. Such a poem proclaiming that God authorized the King of Zhou to rule the world is included in the poem of ancestor worship, so I won't list them one by one. The second is to improve the status of ancestors and make them equal with God. The ancestors of Yin people were under God and obeyed God. However, in the eyes of Zhou people, the status of ancestors far exceeds that of Yin people, and they are equal to God. " Daya？ King Wen:? King Wen's surrender is about the emperor. ? In other words, the God of King Wen helped heaven to descend, and was always by his side. Moreover, when the king of Zhou offered sacrifices to God, he was often accompanied by the first king, as if the ancestors and God could talk to God directly. "Zhou Wei? Si Wen:? Hou Ji, who pays homage to his ancestors, is nothing less than a god. ? It shows that on the one hand, when offering sacrifices to the Emperor of Heaven, it matches the former king, and it also shows that the virtue of Hou Ji, the ancestor of the Zhou Dynasty, can be compared with the Emperor of Heaven. " Zhou Wei? "I will" is also a sacrifice to heaven with King Wen.

Whether it is to preach that God authorized Zhou Wang to rule the world or to promote the status of the ancestor god, the ultimate goal is to deify the ruling class and strengthen the ruling position. All the ruling classes in the past dynasties knew this and strengthened their rule by offering sacrifices to their ancestors. Ceremony? "Sacrifice righteousness" cloud:

? Don't be in a hurry to treat people. There are five rites, and nothing is more important than sacrifice. Husband's sacrifice is not from the outside, but also from the heart. I was afraid of it and gave it a gift. Therefore, only saints can make just sacrifices. ?

It can be seen that the ancients regarded sacrifice as? How to treat people? Go and see, ancestor worship is the most important thing. Sacrificing ancestors is a heartfelt reverence for ancestors. Give it to you as a gift? . Zhou Wang equated his ancestors with God. What's in Zhou Wang? Son of heaven? As the son of the Emperor of Heaven, Zhou Wang ruled the people all over the world in order to raise the status of his ancestors, deify his rule, fool the people, make his people more obedient to himself, and show his ulterior political goals and potential psychology. In ancestor worship, gods are sacrificed and entertained, but in fact they are entertained by gods? Governing the people? , this "Mandarin? Chu language is clear:

? Marry a friend in his hometown and a relative of the Bill brothers; The result is harsh, precious and beautiful. Marry, trust up and down, in order to confirm the surname; People who believe in God are also devout. So Zhao's business is also. ?

Since ancestor worship has such advantages, it is by no means dispensable, but the fundamental policy of governing the country, which is of course valued by the ruling class. "History? Hong Fan said that there are eight strategies for governing the country, among which sacrifice is the third strategy, which shows the importance of the ruling class. By offering sacrifices to ancestors, the rulers of the Zhou Dynasty declared that God's will is political rationality. Only by obeying God's will can politics be clear and the country's luck be long. Son of heaven? It stands to reason that the will of the ruling class is the will of God, and all ethnic groups should obey it. It can be said that the ancestor worship of Zhou people is covered with the cloak of God, which is majestic and mysterious above the world. In fact, it is completely rooted in the soil of reality, and, like political poems, bitter poems and satirical poems, it has urgent political purposes and utilitarianism. Its political color is far greater than religious color, and religion is just a coat.

2 1 Promote filial piety and strengthen the cohesion of family and tribal members.

Paying attention to filial piety is a fine tradition and virtue formed in the history of Chinese civilization for 5,000 years. China ancient society? Filial piety? As an important criterion to measure personality. Ceremony? Sacrifice system ":

? There are three ways to kiss a dutiful son. Keep it alive. If you don't do this, you will be mourned. If you are mourned, you will be sacrificed. If you raise it, you will see its smoothness, if you lose it, you will see its sadness, and if you offer it, you will see its respect. You are a dutiful son by doing so. ?

Ceremony:? Sacrifice first, so I reported it. ? So ancestor worship means returning to nature. Ceremony:? Sages start all over again and never forget their origins. ? The reporter thanked Zien, and the opponent took the credit. It can be seen that ancestor worship also means praising and attaching importance to filial piety. Do not forget your initiative mind? Although our ancestors are dead, their voices are still there.

The ancients believed that the soul could not die, and King Zhou worshipped his ancestors everywhere, showing his filial piety, because in his consciousness, ancestors and gods would bless him and eliminate disasters. The ancestors of Zhou people were all outstanding figures, and their ancestors were Wen, Wu, Cheng, Kang, and Hou Ji. In Tian Wei Chuan? This is the fate of heaven, how solemn and endless. How solemn and glorious, the moral integrity of King Wen. Fake to spill me? I accepted it. Jun Hui, my king of literature, great-grandson Du Zhi? It not only praised Zhou Wenwang's great achievements, but also showed his determination to follow King Wen. Sven? Hou Ji, who pays homage to his ancestors, is nothing less than a god. It is a great thing to make me a citizen. I'll beg, Emperor Sheng. ? Recalling the greatness of Hou Ji, he thought that only Hou Ji could be the commander-in-chief of all peoples. The most important ancestors of the Zhou family were King Zhou, King Wen and King Cheng, all of whom played an important role in the development of the country in their lives. On the one hand, the ancestor worship poems in The Book of Songs praised the great achievements of ancestors, which made the Zhou tribe realize a fundamental turning point in the history of development, and jumped from an ordinary Shang Dynasty to the supreme Lord of China. On the other hand, it shows the determination to follow the former king, make persistent efforts, stick to inheritance and carry forward the Zhou nationality.

Zhou people believed that their souls could still play an important role after their ancestors died. They are sacred kings and heroes in the eyes of future generations and protectors of their own nation, stronger than before. Zhou people praised their ancestors' outstanding achievements by offering sacrifices to their ancestors, and the development from ontological worship to spiritual worship was an affirmation of outstanding figures who promoted historical progress, thus unifying the admirers' memory and worship of their ancestors. For the ruling group, because of blood relationship, ancestors become the most direct protectors of future generations, while for different surnames without blood relationship, ancestor worship is the most exclusive.

The attitude of offering sacrifices to ancestors is one of the important criteria to measure whether they are filial. Zhou people believed that their ancestors would take care of their real lives in the dark and regarded their filial piety as a blessing or a disaster. Since ancestor worship is an important event for self-interest, shadow and future generations, Zhou people often show their own in ancestor worship? Filial piety? . In addition to the monarch, governors and foreigners also participated in the sacrificial activities. Sacrificial speeches are mostly in the form of describing the former Wang Gongde, and enjoining future generations to abide by the teachings.

? Sacrifice is to observe its respect? When offering sacrifices, the filial piety of children and grandchildren is reflected in ancestors? Where to? Medium. Every time he offered sacrifices to his ancestors, King Zhou carefully prepared sacrifices to show his respect and filial piety to his ancestors. Sacrifice to ancestors is very strict, and the coat color must be pure. "Xiaoya? New Nanshan contains:? From sacrifice to sacrifice, enjoy the ancestral test. ? Li, yellow with red. The ancients were still red, so they sacrificed pure-bred oxen. Pure red ox sheets don't have to be sacrificed, but they do? Ji? Go and use it. In addition to strict requirements, the preparation of sacrifice also requires? Everything? To show filial piety.

? Water plants. Native sugar. The little thing is ready. Three kinds of animals. Eight pounds of food. All the beautiful things are ready. The difference between insects, the reality of vegetation, and the preparation of yin and yang. Where heaven was born, the earth is hard and harsh, and it is salty. Show everything. ?

The costumes worn by the king to sacrifice to his ancestors are elaborate and complicated, and they also need divination. Which ones do you choose? Ji? The wife of the world? Did it work? , dyed vermilion green and dark yellow, and then made into clothes worn by the king at the ancestor worship ceremony. In addition, the attitude of the King of Zhou is respectful when he worships his ancestors, which is also a sign of filial piety. Who was the king of Zhou when he offered sacrifices to his ancestors? Hu, its respect also; Pleasure, loyalty, filial piety? .

Ancestor worship existed in primitive society, but it has been institutionalized in the long history of China, and has been incorporated into the feudal norm system that restricts people's behavior. Compared with other forms of religious worship, ancestor worship is more realistic and utilitarian, forming a psychological hint of self-interest rather than surname. At the same time, the object of ancestor worship is the ancestors and ancestors of the whole nation. Under the influence of ancestor worship, national ancestors are the banner that unites the whole nation, the symbol of national caste and the spiritual core and symbol of all ethnic groups. Through the form of ancestor worship, we can get spiritual encouragement and blessings from the ancestors' gods, so as to give blessings to the rulers and the clans they represent, achieve the expected psychological hints, and strengthen the family and tribal members.

The Origin and Development of Sacrificial Culture

China has a long history of 5,000 years of civilization. In the long history of the development of human society, sacrificial activities, as one of the religious contents, once occupied a very important position. Sacrifice is to pay tribute to the gods through a fixed ceremony, and to offer rich sacrifices, asking the gods to help people realize their wishes that are difficult to achieve by manpower. The appearance of sacrifice is related to the mystery and fear of nature in the early days of mankind. In the era of the Yellow Emperor in the ancient legend of China, people already had the concept of soul and ghosts and gods, and large-scale sacrificial activities also came into being. The earliest sacrificial records can be found in Oracle Bone Inscriptions during the Yin and Shang Dynasties. Ancient ancestors did not know much about natural things, were puzzled by their own existence, and were ignorant and helpless about the changes of nature, so that they could only hold a cautious attitude and then worship and pray for nature. Sacrifice is essentially to please and buy off the gods, and it is an activity that extends the relationship between people to the relationship between people and gods.

In primitive times, people thought that the human soul could exist without the body. Wind, rain, thunder and lightning, the sun, the moon and stars, rocks and trees, birds and animals are all considered to be the masters of God. Everything is animistic? Therefore, people are grateful to the gods, but they are also in awe of them. Ancient ancestors believed that there was a soul after death, and the soul could communicate with the living in dreams, which could make the living sick or miserable. This fear of the gods is an important reason for the sacrifice. Sacrifice is a derivative of the concept of soul.

The initial sacrificial activities were relatively simple and barbaric. The objects of sacrifice include all the gods: the ancestors of heaven and earth, the gods of mountains and rivers, the people who made virtue by philosophers before, and the earth with three days and five elements. Sacrifice often uses food, including pigs, cows, sheep, chickens and so on. Animals with pure fur are called sacrifices, and their bodies are sacrifices. Cattle, sheep and pigs are collectively called the three sacrifices, which is the most grand sacrifice. There are sacrifices of jade, people and blood. Sacrificial places mainly include flat land, pits, graves, temples and altars. Sacrificial methods include burning, pouring, burying, sinking and hanging. There are many folk sacrificial ceremonies and offerings. Pastors are generally wizards, priests, family leaders, etc. Most of the sacrificial objects are natural gods, totems, ancestors and ghosts. Except for some superstitions, sacrifice has become a way for people to express their feelings or a national habit.

Numerous sacrificial poems and related records have also formed a unique sacrificial culture. The rise of sacrificial culture has its unique historical background and cultural connotation. Is it in Zuo Zhuan? The great event of the country lies in respecting peace and honor. ? Sacrifice is also a national event. ? Sacrifice is offering sacrifices. Sacrifice and expedition reflect two practical problems: direct fighting determines the survival of the country; Indirect prayer reveals a desire for a stable life. Is there a cloud in the Warring States Policy? Sacrifice must be blessed? . "pipe? In light and heavy:? 92 days from the beginning of spring, called summer solstice, the wheat is ripe. The son of heaven worshipped in Taizong and flourished wheat. ? The son of heaven was worshipped in Taizu, which was full of millet. ? The rituals, sacrifices and costumes of sacrifices are recorded in detail. Book of rites? Sacrificial law:? Sacrifice is also a sacred king system, and when the law is applied to the people, it is sacrificed. Sacrifice when the country is determined by labor, sacrifice when it can bear great suffering, and sacrifice when it can defend great disasters. ? It records the principles of ancient sacrifices. ? Book of rites? Still in the sacrificial system? Sacrifice, so chasing filial piety? . There are many sacrificial poems in The Book of Songs, which show unique cultural connotations.