1. The Shang Dynasty – Religious Beliefs

2. Shang dynasty was one of the historical Chinese dynasties, where foretelling played a major role. It was in the Shang dynasty (about 2000 BC), where people followed different gods, such as the weather gods and sky gods. People greatly believed that above all gods was Shang Di who ruled over the lesser gods.

3. Great importance was also given in worshipping earth’s structure, i.e. land, river, sea, star, wind, moon, sun as they believed that country’s prosperity comes from parts above and beyond.

4. Ancestor Worship Part of the Shang religion involved ancestor worship. Keeping dead ancestors pleased was very important. It was believed unhappy ancestors could cause bad events such as a bad crop or illness whereas happy ancestors could bring good things such as wealth. Many of the Shang people believed that the spirits of their ancestors existed in the world around them and occupied the objects around them.

5. Divination Divination, which is defined as the using of certain signs to predict future events, played an important part in Shang religion. To do the divination priests would apply a hot metal rod to a turtle shell or bone (usually the shoulder bone of a cow or Ox) until the shell or bone cracked. The ‘reading’ of the cracks was most often performed by the Shang rulers and occasionally by other royalty. The subject of the divination was called the "charge". Typical charges included questions about crops, weather, war, and illness.

6. Oracle Bones The shells and bones used for the Shang divination are called Oracle bones. Usually inscribed on the Oracle bone was the date, charge (reason for the divination), and the diviner's name. After interpreting the cracks made by the divination process the results were usually carved on the shell or bone.

7. Religious Beliefs Oracle Bones / divination

8. Examples of Inscriptions on Oracle Bones Crack-making on yiwei (day 32), Gu divined: “Father Yi (the twentieth Shang king, Xiao Yi, the father of Wu Ding) is harming the king.” Divined: “Grandfather Ding (the fifteenth king, father of Xiao Yi) is harming the king.” Divined: “There is a sick tooth; it is not Father Yi (=Xiao Yi, as above) who is harming (it/him).”

9. Details of Lady Fu Hao’s Tomb The grave goods found in Lady Fu Hao’s tomb were exceptional, as it was one of the few tombs in China that was discovered unlooted. In total, more than 400 bronze relics were found in the tomb, including weapons, bells, mirrors, and ritual vessels. Furthermore, a vast quantity of jade (755 items), bone (564 items), ivory, stone and ceramic objects, as well as thousands of cowrie shells (Shang currency) were found in the tomb. Apart from these offerings, human sacrifices were also performed, so that Fu Hao would have servants to serve her in the afterlife. This is evident in the skeletons off 16 human beings buried around the perimeter of her tomb.

11. Lady Fu Hao Religious Beliefs - Burial Tombs They practiced Human and Animal Sacrifice (to calm an “angry ancestral spirit”) Human sacrifice – mostly prisoners of war Buried with the objects useful in the afterlife

12. Religious Beliefs – Burial Tombs

13. Found in Lady Fu Hao’s Tomb Sitting Human Figure Pendant Made of Gray Jade Pendant in the shape of a hawk

14. A Bronze vessel in the form of an owl from the Fu Hao Tomb Many of the vessels were inscribed with Fu Hao's posthumous title, "Si Mu Xin.