Rituals were the most common religious activity through which humans tried to connect with divine beings. The Eun-Shang Dynasty was no exception. It is commonly said that the people of the Eun-Shang Dynasty worshipped spirits. However, the reason they...
Rituals were the most common religious activity through which humans tried to connect with divine beings. The Eun-Shang Dynasty was no exception. It is commonly said that the people of the Eun-Shang Dynasty worshipped spirits. However, the reason they worshipped spirits is explained by Wang Wushin, who argues that, 'At that time, the level of production was low, and humans could not control their own fate. Thus, they believed in a supernatural, mysterious force outside the material world that could influence all phenomena occurring in human society and the natural world. This belief led the people of the Eun dynasty to worship heavenly deities.'
Furthermore, the ruling class of the Eun-Shang Dynasty, through ancestral rituals, always hoped to receive blessings from their ancestors in the heavens, which served as a form of psychological comfort. The record of the ritual practice seeking blessings and overcoming difficulties is seen in the Oracle Bone Script.
The content of the rituals in the Oracle Bone Script is very rich, showing that the ritual activities during the Eun-Shang Dynasty were frequent and complex. However, as time passed, the concept of worshipping natural gods diminished, and the worship of ancestors, particularly those with direct blood relations, became stronger. Over time, the ritual system became stricter and more simplified, and the sacrifices offered during the rituals also decreased. This does not suggest that the belief in ancestor worship weakened or that the ancestors were neglected, but rather that the changes in the forms of divine worship and the powers attributed to the deities led to a transformation in the ritual system according to the era’s social changes.
The method of divination using Oracle Bone Script was a unique tradition of the Eun dynasty. The Eun dynasty ruled in accordance with the will of heaven and was a theocratic state where ritual practices were closely tied to politics. Religious and ritual records found in the Oracle Bone Script of the Shang dynasty show that the worship of heavenly deities, especially the Supreme God, had become widespread. Records also confirm that ancestral worship, through lavish rituals dedicated to past kings and sages, was a prominent feature. In the divination records of the Shang royal family, the omnipotence of the Supreme God and the devotion to him are expressed in several instances. The Eun dynasty was a state where ritual practices were extremely intense, and the Supreme God, along with ancestors, became an important focus of these rituals.
The divination practices performed by the Shang royal family recorded various natural phenomena and the hopes and wishes of human society. These records include not only the people's desires but also the offerings and sacrifices made in the hopes that these wishes would be accepted by the gods. The kings of the Shang dynasty performed rituals to pray for the peace of the state, victory in wars, and good harvests. Especially for the ancestors, rituals were performed throughout the year with great devotion according to divinatory guidance, which was closely tied to the Confucian concept of filial piety. The offerings made during the rituals for the ancestors of the Shang dynasty included hundreds of cattle, sheep, and other animals, and there are even records of human sacrifices numbering in the hundreds, shedding light on the brutal practices of the time. The purpose of rituals, regardless of time or place, was to prevent disasters and receive blessings. It was believed that if rituals were performed improperly, they could bring misfortune and disaster. The presence of a supreme natural deity, such as the kings of the Shang dynasty, with absolute power, was essential, and the form and methods of the rituals became highly structured and systematic, especially after the Mujeong period.
This paper identifies two core themes in the historical and cultural context of the Shang Dynasty. One is that Oracle Bone Script was essentially a form of divination aimed at resolving uncertainties about the future. The other is that the Shang Dynasty was an era that placed great importance on rituals, regardless of external opinions. These two themes are inseparable. Therefore, the goal of this study is to propose a systematic approach to classification based on these two themes.