Study On The Ancestral Sacrifice Of Zhou Dynasty

The sacrifice is a very important thing in Zhou Dynasty, ancestors is the most important sacrifice objects among the deities, the local gods, ghosts (ancestors), which form sacrifice system of Zhou Dynasty. The original ancestral sacrifice bases on ancestor worship and should appear in the matriarchal society, it is regards as a worship of human reproduction ability. Thereafter, ancestor sacrifice doesn’t discontinue and add fresh content constantly as the development of the times. In Zhou Dynasty, ancestor sacrifice derives the soul belief and become an important social activities aimed at praying and averting disaster to ancestral spirits.Ancestor sacrifice of Zhou Dynasty throughout the traditional JI LI, XIONG LI,BIN LI, JUN LI and JIA LI, to a certain extent, it reflects the importance and frequency of ancestor sacrifice. Ancestor sacrifice of JI LI mainly reflected in a series of sacrificial rites of the ancestral temple, for instance, SI XIAN GUAN sacrifice, present foods sacrifice, season sacrifice, DI sacrifice, XIA sacrifice, etc. Ancestor sacrifice of XIONG LI mainly refers to a series of ritual activities before and after the death of ancestors, the rite before ancestors buried called DIAN, the rite after ancestors buried called sacrifice, the difference between them is no SHI in the period of DIAN. Ancestor sacrifice of BIN LI mainly due to the rites that the nobility participate in major political activities, such as meeting, alliances held activities. Ancestor sacrifice of JUN LI permeate every aspect of the war, including sacrifice and inform ancestors before the war, sacrifice ancestors at any time in the war, report to the ancestors fighting result in the temple after the war. Ancestor sacrifice of JIA LI means the rites which held in other major social activities, for example, in the crown ceremony and the wedding.Ancestor sacrifice of Zhou Dynasty contains distinct reality purpose. Some sacrifice pray blessing, salary and rank, life-span to the gods, hope ancestors bless the grain harvest, the family prosperity and the country for a long time. Some sacrifice hope ancestors dispel disasters, disease and the war. Some sacrifice held for major political events or thanksgiving ancestors. These sacrifices with different purposes show a psychological tendency of Zhou Dynasty people to pursue good fortunes and avoid disasters.Ancestor sacrifice of Zhou Dynasty held on the spots of TAN and SHAN, or in the front of tombs, or in the ancestral temples and other places, the ancestral temples are the most important spot of sacrificing ancestors. The nobles of Zhou Dynasty may establish varying amounts of ancestral temple according to their different bloods and status, the rite of sacrificing ancestors in the ancestral temples is lengthy and complex, the nature of the rite is devoutness and respect to their ancestors in order to ensure the atmosphere of the solemn of sacrificing.Between ancestor sacrifice of Zhou Dynasty and ZHAO MU system, the patriarchal clan system has an interaction and influence. On the one hand, these important social systems stipulate related matters of ancestor sacrifice of Zhou Dynasty, on the other hand, ancestor sacrifice also guarantee the smooth implementation of these systems.Ancestor sacrifice of Zhou Dynasty mixes the strong thought of sorcery and the theory YIN and YANG. In fact, many links of ancestor sacrifice are controlled by the wizards, simulation of witchcraft and contact witchcraft can be found in the ancestor sacrifice of Zhou Dynasty. Although the theory YIN and YANG in the ancestor sacrifice of Zhou Dynasty is a theoretical innovation product in order to maintain hierarchical order in nature, it also is an understanding of the dynamics of life and embodies inner spirit of the people of Zhou Dynasty to pursuit harmony of YIN and YANG.Ancestor sacrifice of Zhou Dynasty could change with the replacement of dynasties and the development of the times. The evolution of the Yin and Zhou dynasties occasion, western Zhou Dynasty inherit and reform the rite of ancestor sacrifice of Yin Dynasty. In the social revolution period of the spring-autumn society and the warring states society, Ancestor sacrifice of Zhou Dynasty takes place obvious changes from the rite of sacrifice, the ceremony of sacrifice and the significance of sacrifice, one of the most striking changes is that the HUANG DI is adored and sacrificed by people of the warring states society as the cultural ancestor of the Chinese nation.Ancestor sacrifice of Zhou Dynasty exhibits two characteristics of grade and humanism. The feature of grade not only exists between the nobles and commoners, but also exists in more extensive social relations, for example among the nobles of different stratums, the stratum between DI and SHU, between men and women. Although ancestor sacrifice of Zhou Dynasty bears a strong limitation of grade, the process of sacrifice also shows the characteristics of valuing filial piety and advocating morality and sends out the humanistic spirit.Ancestor sacrifice of Zhou Dynasty plays an active role in strengthening the order, closing the family and integrating the moral principles, the thought of advocating ethics greatly influences the essence of laws and regulations and governing philosophy of Zhou Dynasty. At the same time, ancestor sacrifice of Zhou Dynasty also affects the forming path of Chinese civilization hereafter, the balanced thought between nature and people, the unified thought, it has a profound influence on the Chinese history.