From chaos to the light beyond : a study of early Chinese civilization using oracle bone scripts as proof = 從混沌到光明 : 以殷商甲骨卜辭考證中華文明早期宗教面貌

Abstract

Religion occupies a predominant position throughout the history of human civilization. From prehistorical archaeological relics to religion in the modern society, the nature of religion remains the same, regardless of its different manifestations. Fundamentally, religion reflects our interpretation of the world and nature, as well as our understanding of interpersonal relationships.

The major objective of this study is to explore the oracle bone scripts of the Shang Dynasty and to reveal the religious features in the times of early Chinese civilization. The Shang Dynasty is the earliest period that has retained records of oracle bone literature. The Shang Dynasty was also the initial stage of the development of Chinese Civilization, thanks to its rich material culture and abundant historical and academic documents. As a result, the oracle bone scripts of the Shang Dynasty plays witness to the religious features of the early Chinese civilization, and it plays an important role in the research.

The discovery of this study shows that Chinese religion is based on ancestor worship and the awarendess of tracing back to the ancestor worship. The awareness is largely tied to the agrarian nature of Chinese society, including the traditional agricultural production, foster, animal husbandry, fishery, and agricultural and sideline products etc. Owing to this production and living mode, the Chinese had a strong desire to learn the law of nature, bringing Chinese religion into being. The Chinese religion started from worshipping heaven to worshipping ancestors, which was where the idea of “trace to its source” was made. The most significant features of Chinese religion demonstrate “orderliness”, “regularity” and “ancestor worship”. It was Shang Dynasty that encouraged the Chinese civilization to break through from Chaos to the Light Beyond. With the development of Shang Dynasty, the Chinese civilization was evolved into an orderly and splendid era filled with life and growth.