| Belief in Birds was one of the dominant beliefs held by ancients in Chinese primitive society. At that time, numerous nationalities including Dongyi, Baiyue, and Jingchu, ect. worshipped and had special feelings towards birds. Among Baiyue nationalities, Wuyue, inhabiting the lower reaches of Yangzi River, especially were pious believers. The paper argues that such worship originated in the domestication of wild rice and cultivation of hybrid rice. As gods of grains, birds not only helped Wu and Yue ancients discover rice, but also provided the ancients with important seasonal information to plan the farming in ancient times when science and technology lagged behind greatly based on the fact that birds’ habits of migration are regular in terms of seasons. That is to say, birds were closely connected with material production that ancients relied on, which gradually inspired their worship for and belief in birds. In addition, sun is indispensable to the growth of rice. Without sufficient sunlight, rice would end up in poor harvest or even yield nothing. Therefore ancients showed reverence for sun as well. After a considerable period of time, worships for birds and sun were integrated, hence worship for sunbird.During the300BC, perhaps earlier, immigrants from China introduced rice cultivation to Japan. Of these immigrants Wu and Yue people was a significant branch. The Jomon society marked by gathering, hunting and fishing gradually developed to Yayoi agricultural society. During Yayoi period, trim rice fields and various irrigation facilities were scattered around Japan, besides kinds of relatively advanced farm tools and hardware were adopted. As rice cultivation was introduced, other techniques of production relating to rice cultivation and farming (such as techniques of textile and silkworm breeding) as well as spiritual life were also introduced to Japan from Wu and Yue districts. It was during this time that worship for birds became a vital part of Japanese spiritual world. According to archaeology discoveries, among historical remains of Jomon period relics relevant to birds were almost not unearthed. However numerous relics concerning birds were found among remains of Yayoi period, which fully indicates that worship for birds started from this period, in keeping with the introduction of rice cultivation to Japan. It cannot be said that this was a coincidence. Some utensils associated with birds more often than not were excavated together with relics related with rice cultivation or put together in archaeological relicts, which shows that Belief in Birds in Japan has close relation with rice cultivation. Rice cultivation always gives rise to agricultural rituals. During the ancient agricultural rituals, welcoming gods of grains was one of its most significant purposes and contents. Birds were frequently seen as messengers to welcome gods of grains or gods themselves, thus they were sacrificed and worshipped. A great many legends and records concerning Belief in Birds and sunbirds can be found in Japanese books and records. A lot of aspects about modern Japanese folk culture still carried on Belief in Birds as before. All in all, Belief in Birds was introduced to Japan with rice culture from China during Yayoi period. |
