Historical Studies (Chinese Edition)

No.2, 2013

 

From 'Worshipping the Gods' to 'Venerating Virtue': the Changing View of Qiwu in the Shang and Zhou Dynasties

(Abstract)

 

Huang Hongchun

 

During the Shang and Zhou dynasties, the idea of 气物（qìwù, literally things to do with air ) was closely related to belief in divinities. In the oracle bone inscriptions, the Chinese character 勿 is the origin of the character物 (wù, literally thing), or what later ages called qìwù. The oracle bone inscriptions show that the Yin (Shang) prayed to the gods and sought their blessing through divination, and the gods' wishes controlled their thoughts. The Zhou believed that "Heaven is virtuous", so they took "venerating virtue and protecting the people" as their guiding thought, stressing diligence in worldly affairs. The purpose of the rulers in building the lingtai (灵台，ancient observatory) was to observe the clouds and air for the purpose of ascertaining good or ill omens for the conduct of political affairs. Between the Shang and the Zhou, a major change occurred in the concept of qìwù, as institutions and human affairs rather than the will of the gods were used to confirm the outcome of divination. In the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, the idea that the ruler was like the sun led to the belief that the qìwù around the sun was a good or evil portent. Therefore, observing the air from the lingtai became an important and solemn ceremony for both the ruler and his officials.