Zastanawiam się o co chodzi z tym ritual sacrifice… W chinach jest jakiś zwyczaj rytualnego zabijania wrogów?
Ancient China practiced ritual sacrifice, particularly human sacrifice, which was prevalent in the Shang dynasty for religious and political purposes but declined over time. Ritual sacrifices evolved to include offerings burned to ancestors and deities, and later, more symbolic or non-human sacrifices as practices changed with dynasties like the Zhou and Han, and the influence of philosophies like Confucianism. The practice was ultimately abolished in the early 20th century.
Early and Shang dynasties
Human sacrifice: The Shang dynasty engaged in widespread human sacrifice, with evidence from oracle bones indicating over 14,000 sacrifices in a specific period.
Purpose: These sacrifices were often made to appease gods, ensure good harvests or weather, and communicate with ancestors.
Execution: Sacrificial victims, frequently prisoners of war, were sometimes buried with animals or found with their skulls bashed in, while others were decapitated and boiled.
Political control: Human sacrifice served to reinforce the king's authority, as he was the sole intermediary with the gods, while also instilling fear among the populace.
Later dynasties and evolution
Decline: Human sacrifice began to decline during the Warring States period and largely disappeared after the Han dynasty, partly due to the influence of Confucianism.
Funerary sacrifice: The tradition of funerary sacrifice, where individuals were killed to accompany the deceased, continued with less beheading.
Reemergence: The practice saw a resurgence during the Jin and Liao dynasties before being finally abolished during the Republic of China era (1912–1949).
Modern era
Shift to symbolic offerings: Today, traditional sacrifices like the "Sacrifice to Heaven" are performed without human victims.
Other rituals: Modern Chinese funerals often involve ritual washing, wearing specific clothes, and providing symbolic goods or food for the deceased, without any form of human sacrifice.
