A Study On Agricultural Sacrifice In Zhou Dynasty

The agricultural sacrifice in Zhou Dynasty refers to the agricultural sacrifice ceremonies in the system of sacrifice in Zhou Dynasty.It includes sacrifice to sheji(社稷),harvest,rain,annual output and wusi(五祀)in spring and autumn at south suburb.Sacrificing to rain includes yuji(雩祭),fenwuwang(焚巫尪),zuotulong(作土龙)and sacrificing to Yushi(雨师).Sacrificing to the harvest includes zhaji(蜡祭),laji(腊祭),praying for harvest next year,sacrificing to menlv(门闾)and so on.The purpose of this study is to collect and study the specific contents of agricultural sacrifice in Zhou Dynasty through literature materials,so as to study the etiquette,characteristics and function of the agricultural sacrifice in Zhou Dynasty.All of the text can be divided into six parts,each part is summarized as follows:The introduction is divided into four sections,namely,the origin and significance of the topic,the overview and analysis of the current research situation about the agriculture and sacrifice in Zhou Dynasty in the last 30 years,the ideas and methods of the study,the research scope and the way to apply the historical materials.The origin and significance of the topic is the importance of the agriculture and sacrifice in Zhou Dynasty.The general method is to collect the specific contents of agricultural sacrifice in Zhou Dynasty from literature materials,such as the sacrifice to agricultural god,for the purpose of praying for agricultural production and eliminating the evil and expressing the values of agricultural production.The sacrifice can be divided into four chapters according to the seasons.It mainly discusses the functions of agricultural sacrifice in conclusion.It is based on literature materials,combined with the materials and theories such as religion,cultural anthropology and agriculture.The Zhou Dynasty mentioned in this text includes two historical periods:Western Zhou and Eastern Zhou.On using historical materials,it mainly includes Shangshu(尚书),Shijing(诗经),Guoyu(国语),Zuozhuan(左传),Zhouli(周礼)and Liji(礼记).The generation time of Zhouli(周礼)and Liji(礼记)is controversial,but the main view is that both of them are generated in The Warring States Era which can reflect the real situation of Zhou Dynasty.The first chapter is mainly about the contents of harvest sacrifice in spring at south suburb in Zhou Dynasty.The object of sacrifice is god and houji(后稷).The time is shangxinri(上辛日)of the first month in spring.It is located in south suburb.The jade is siguiyoudi(四圭有邸).The formal suit is xuanmiandaqiu(玄冕大裘).The sacrificial offering is cattle.The time and the offering must be chosen through yinsizhifa(禋祀之法)with shi(尸),dance and poetry.The situation of jitianli(藉田礼)and the relationship with farming time will be discussed in the last.The second chapter is about the contents of sacrifice to sheji(社稷)especially about the customary sacrifice.It is often held in jiari(甲日)of the second month in spring and autumn.The objects of sacrifice are natural gods--soil god,grain god and personality god--houtugoulong(后土句龙)and houji(后稷).It is held in the place called shejizhitan(社稷之坛)includes the sacrificial altar,trees and shezhu(社主).The etiquette includes method,offering,formal suit,jade,sacrificial vessel,dance,poetry and so on.Praying for the annual output and wusi(五祀)according to Zhouli(周礼)will be discussed next.The objects of praying for the annual output are Tianzu(田祖)and Tianjun(田畯)who teach ancestors to engage in farm product.The objects of wusi(五祀)is Sifangshen(四方神)who is in charge of agricultural seasons.The place and time of them are same as the state of the sacrifice to sheji(社稷),so they can be included in this chapter.The third chapter about the rain sacrifice in Zhou Dynasty.Raining is closely related to agriculture,so rain sacrifice has been widespread in Shang Dynasty and Zhou Dynasty which follows Shang Dynasty.This chapter is divided into three sections,and the first section mainly expounds the yuji(雩祭)in Zhou Dynasty.Yuji(雩祭)can be divided into changyu(常雩)and hanyu(旱雩).Changyu(常雩)is often held in the emperors’biggest rain sacrifice in every April.Hanyu(旱雩)is often held when the droughts happen in summer.Emperors can host changyu(常雩),while the dukes don’t have the right.However,both emperor and dukes can host hanyu(旱雩).The objects are five emperors,shanggong(上公),mountains’and rivers’sources.Other rain methods have been discussed in the second section,such as fenwuwang(焚巫尪)that prays for rain through burning it or exposure it under the blazing sun for quite a long time which is closely related with witchcraft.Except that,there exist other ways,such as zuotulong(作土龙)and sacrifice to Yushi(雨师).The sacrifice to stop rain in Zhou Dynasty are also discussed at last,such as yingji(禜祭),offerings in the door and so on.The fourth chapter is about the harvest sacrifice in Zhou Dynasty.The harvest sacrifice includes zhaji(蜡祭),laji(腊祭),praying for the harvest next year and sacrifice to commune and menlv(门闾).The agricultural meanings of zhaji(蜡祭)which is typical agricultural sacrifice in Zhou Dynasty include stopping farming,repaying,celebrating harvest and paying the last respects.The objects of zhaji(蜡祭)are eight gods.It is often held in October according to the Xia Dynasty’s calendar.The formal suit and accessories of zhaji(蜡祭)reflect the meaning of dead.After the ceremony,drinking and shooting courtesy should be held.Laji(腊祭)also belongs to the annual harvest sacrifice.The object is ancestor--wusi(五祀).And it is held in in October according to the Xia Dynasty’s calendar.The objects of sacrifice that prays for harvest next year is Tianzong(天宗).Then the sacrifice to commune which the civics construct and menlv(门闾)which refers to the village gate should be held.All of them constitute the contents of the harvest sacrifice at the end of the year in Zhou Dynasty.The conclusion part is about the functions of agricultural sacrifice including praying,repaying and guiding agricultural production.Praying and repaying refer to blessing,eliminating evil and repaying.Blessing can be divided into two parts:praying for the harvest that sacrifice to the harvest in spring at south suburb and praying for the annual output that includes chunqishe(春祈社),praying to Tianzu(田祖)for the annual output and praying for harvest next year.Eliminating evil refers to eliminate inundation,drought and pests.Repaying refers to repay to the agricultural gods for the bliss of agricultural production in the autumn and the year-end.Guiding agricultural production is another function of agricultural sacrifice which includes paying more attention to farming and improving the system of agricultural management.All of them embody the thought of valuing agriculture in Zhou Dynasty’s ruling class.That the people in Zhou Dynasty attach great importance to sacrifice and agriculture can be seen from the agricultural sacrifice.It expresses the sacrifice’s prominent position in Zhou Dynasty and the importance of agricultural production.The functions and characteristics of agricultural sacrifice can be summed through the study of the agricultural sacrifice in Zhou Dynasty.And it is important to research history,agricultural production and ideology in Zhou Dynasty.