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Agricultural Divinity Worship from Western Zhou Dynasty to Spring and Autumn Period

Author: ShiZhiLong
Tutor: LiYuJie；TuBaiKui
School: Henan University
Course: History of Ancient China
Keywords: Western Zhou Dynasty Agricultural Divinity Worship Hou-Ji Shen-nong-shi Sacrifice
CLC: K224
Type: Master's thesis
Year: 2007
Downloads: 118
Quote: 0
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Abstract


Ancient times had countless ties with primitive mythos. Shen-nong-shi, was the first agricultural deity in fairy tale and made fetish by offspring of all Chinese nation, whose name could be found in many classical documents and works of thinkers living in Spring and Autumn Period. He was the first headman of ancient tribe who made a notable contribution to Chinese primitive agriculture. After Shen-nong-shi died, another divinity governing agriculture called Hou-Ji emerged in fete of Zhou tribe. The relevant documents were composed of fables and historical legendary, which mixed up together could provide us a lot of historical clues. The worship of agricultural idol had a close connection with the development of productive forces in agriculture, scientific knowledge about natural phenomenon and impact of disastrous climate.As a fable figure of agricultural fetish with human nature of Zhou tribe’s grandfather, Hou-Ji had a special position in Chinese history and exerted an important influence on Chinese agricultural civilization, political life in feudal times, folk custom of social bottom, and even further on the formation of Chinese national character and value outlook. Gradually, he was mentioned as the symbol of Chinese agricultural civilization, agricultural spirit, harvest, affluent life and peaceful state. This compounded human figure with magic power left a lot of unsolved questions for scholars to discuss endlessly, such as whether he was born by human being or not, where and when he was born. This thesis makes a brief analysis on these disputes and on worship of agricultural fetish falling from zenith, the reason for which could be concluded to the contending for political power and fluid balance of power confrontment between central government and local seigneurs.For thousands of years, folk worship of agriculture divinity has preserved its fete nature of corn deity, in spite of the disturbance caused by political struggles. Common people prostrated themselves in worship with simple aim and just prayed for bumper harvest, good weather for the crops and happy life. From Zhou dynasty to Qing dynasty, all of nobles and populace have paid their devotional homage to Hou-Ji for thousands of years, who shouldered spiritual bailment of our agricultural nation and reminded the feudal government to attach much importance to agriculture and cherish the production of peasants.

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CLC: > History, geography > History of China > The 21st century slave society ( about BC ~ 475 BC ) > Three generations ( 21th century BC - 770 BC ) > Western Zhou Dynasty ( 11th century BC - 770 BC )
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