History Shangdi

1 history

1.1 shang dynasty
1.2 zhou dynasty
1.3 han dynasty

history
shang dynasty

oracle bone script, earliest known form of chinese.

the earliest references shangdi found in oracle bone inscriptions of shang dynasty in 2nd millennium bc, although later work classic of history claims yearly sacrifices made him emperor shun, before xia dynasty.

shangdi regarded ultimate spiritual power ruling elite of huaxia during shang dynasty: believed control victory in battle, success or failure of harvests, weather conditions such floods of yellow river, , fate of kingdom. shangdi seems have ruled hierarchy of other gods controlling nature, spirits of deceased. these ideas later mirrored or carried on taoist jade emperor , celestial bureaucracy.

shangdi more transcendental immanent, working through lesser gods. shangdi considered distant worshiped directly ordinary mortals. instead, shang kings proclaimed shangdi had made himself accessible through souls of royal ancestors, both in legendary past , in recent generations departed shang kings joined him in afterlife. emperors entreat shangdi directly. many of oracle bone inscriptions record these petitions, praying rain seeking approval shangdi state action.

zhou dynasty

in later shang , zhou dynasties, shangdi conflated heaven (天, tiān). duke of zhou justified clan s usurpation through concept of mandate of heaven, proposed protection of shangdi not connected clan membership governance. shangdi not tribal instead unambiguously moral force, exercising power according exacting standards. lost , inherited new dynasty, provided upheld proper rituals.

nonetheless, connection of many rituals shang clan meant shang nobles continued rule several locations (despite rebellions) , serve court advisors , priests. duke of zhou created entire ceremonial city along strict cosmological principals house shang aristocracy , 9 tripods representing huaxia sovereignty; shang charged maintaining rites of zhou. likewise, shang s lesser houses, shi knightly class, developed directly learned confucian gentry , scholars advised zhou rulers on courtly etiquette , ceremony. confucian classics carried on , ordered earlier traditions, including worship of shangdi. of them include references:

the 4 books mention shangdi but, later compilation, references more sparse , abstract. shangdi appears commonly in earlier works: pattern may reflect increasing rationalization of shangdi on time, shift known , arbitrary tribal god more abstract , philosophical concept, or conflation , absorption other deities.

han dynasty

by time of han dynasty, influential confucian scholar zheng xuan glossed: shangdi name heaven . dong zhongshu said: heaven ultimate authority, king of gods should admired king .

in later eras, commonly known name heavenly ruling highest deity (皇天上帝, huángtiān shàngdì) and, in usage, conflated taoist jade emperor.