Sacrifice In Chinese Culture

Theme: Sacrifice
Various cultures believed that sacrifice were communicating tools to the gods. In this belief, various religions offered human, animal and material sacrifices to their deity. "They spoke to the Gods through sacrifice and believed in creation and destruction to better the world and its birth and its rebirth." (Sterk) The Chinese, Sumerian and Celt's believed in tradition and cultural sacrifice to their deitie's. Sacrifice in cultural myth is part of their religion and everyday tasks here on earth and in the afterlife. Sacrifice in world myth sought out guidance, blessings, forgiveness, fertility, victory and protection.
Sacrifice is a universal theme shared among every culture. All cultures believed that there was a higher power
"The right sacrifices, would provide aid and special favors. These acts assured the people universal powers to share in successful hunts, harvests, fine craftwork and in victory. (Lewis) In all cultures and countries worldwide, sacrifice remains a large universal theme.
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Sacrifice in Chinese culture was that of extraordinary appeal. " Emperors made elaborate sacrifices to heaven and earth with imperial worship." (Faherty)
During the Shang Dynasty, food and wine offerings were all recognized as substantial offerings. "The Chinese would feed the spirits upon ritual sacrifice. The "Bronze Age," was that of sacrifice, this due it's bronze vessel used along with offerings." (Lewis) The cultural beliefs of the Chinese were to take care of their families here and in the afterlife. "Food was among several sensory tools that offered a conduit for communication with the spirit realm." (Sterk 83)
The social classes were separate and they sacrificed and prayed for the health and protection of their families. The kings of China prayed for protection in war and victory. "Blood is the ideal conduit." (Sterk 86) Man had a duty to sacrifice his own thought or behaviors for the sake of tradition. Cooperation helped in doing so, helping their society grow strong as a people. When one passed on, they sacrificed others for safety and guidance in the
Religion, numerous gods and spirits that roamed the earth, waiting. They believed that to reach the afterlife successfully, they had to sacrifice. Myths shared were reincarnation, spiritual guidance and emotional human traits of their gods. These sacrifices had purposes. Sacrifice in world myth sought out guidance, blessings, forgiveness, fertility, victory and protection. The Chinese, Sumerian and Celts believed in tradition, and cultural sacrifice to their deitie's. Sacrifice in cultural myth is part of their religion and daily life.
The Chinese believed in the rebirth of their world and in reincarnation. They fought with goodness and evil, demons and gods. The Sumerians believed and trusted in their gods and wanted to stay in their good graces. "All gods needed to be fed and had to receive their portions of food and meals or they were fed metaphorically by the devotion, obedience and self- sacrifice of their adherents." (Lewis) These cultures fed their gods, spirits and ancestors with offerings Sacrifice as a theme has universal similarities from human, animal and material offerings.
The sacrifices were made by one and then on to hundreds of thousands all for the greater good. The greater good was not always being those who were sacrificed, but for all mankind. Some gave their lives willingly and others were criminals with no choice. Sacrifice is a cultural
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