Who did the Shang people pray to? | History for Year 6 PDF Download

How do we know about Shang religion?

The Shang religion was highly structured and organized. The Shang worshipped numerous gods, and our understanding of their religious practices, including dates, rituals, people, and deities, comes from inscriptions on oracle bones, which were animal bones used in religious practices. Excavated tombs also provide evidence, revealing skeletons arranged uniformly, facing the same direction.

What was sacrifice and divination?

• The Shang performed sacrifices to Di, the High God, as well as to natural forces like the sun and mountains. Sacrifices were also offered to former lords, ancestors, and royal wives who were ancestors of the reigning king. 
• The Shang believed their ancestors held influence over them and conducted rituals to gain their approval for planned actions. 
• Divination involved heating a turtle shell or ox scapula to create cracks while posing a question, with the answer inscribed directly on the bone.

How important was Shangdi?

Shangdi was the supreme spiritual authority in Shang religion. This god controlled critical aspects of life, such as victory in battle, successful harvests, and the flooding of the Yellow River. Shangdi held dominion over other gods, and only emperors could communicate with Shangdi through the spirits of their royal ancestors. Shangdi was also associated with the concept of heaven and influenced many factors that determined whether people experienced prosperity or hardship.

How do we know about a Shang afterlife?

• Evidence suggests the Shang believed in an afterlife, primarily inferred from the elaborate burial tombs constructed for deceased rulers. These tombs often contained items such as carriages, utensils, sacrificial vessels, and weapons, likely intended for use in the afterlife. 
• The burial of a king sometimes included the sacrifice of hundreds of humans and horses to accompany him in the afterlife. Additionally, tombs contained jade ornaments, which the Shang may have believed offered protection against decay or granted eternal life.