Shangdi
Chinese Highest Deity from Shang theology, equated with Tian.
Last updated
The pinyin romanization "Shangdi" corresponds to two Chinese characters where Shàng means "high", "highest", "first", or "primordial", and Dì refers to the High God of Shang, meaning "deity", so the name translates as "Highest Deity" with an implied meaning of "Primordial Deity" or "First Deity" in Classical Chinese.[1]
Life and work
Shangdi was regarded as the ultimate spiritual power by the ruling elite of the Huaxia during the Shang dynasty, controlling victory in battle, harvests, weather, and the fate of the capital.[2] The Duke of Zhou justified his clan's usurpation through the Mandate of Heaven, proposing that Shangdi's protection depended on just governance, not clan membership.[3] Shangdi is never represented with images or idols; instead, a spirit tablet inscribed with his name is stored in the Temple of Heaven.[4] A hierarchy of nature-controlling gods and the spirits of the deceased were under the rule of Shangdi.[5]
The Shang kings claimed that Shangdi became accessible via the souls of their royal ancestors, which enabled the kings to make direct entreaties to Shangdi.[6][7] Petitions to Shangdi, often for rain or approval of state actions, are recorded on oracle bone inscriptions.[7] Zheng Xuan, a Confucian scholar of the Han dynasty, stated that "Shangdi is another name for Heaven".[8]
What the cited sources add
The "Ancient Chinese History in Light of the Book of Genesis" account records that Emperor Shun sacrificed to Shangdi in 2230 B.C., meaning Supreme Ruler.[9] That same source states that the worship of Shangdi was continued faithfully by the Emperor up into modern times, even as the people lost understanding of the ceremony.[9] A recitation praising Shangdi as Creator of heaven and earth sounds like the first chapter of Genesis, according to that account.[9] The original people of China looked at Shangdi with a sense of love and a filial feeling, the source reports.[9]
As the ceremony concludes, Shangdi is praised for his loving kindness: "Thy sovereign goodness is infinite".[9] The first righteous Chinese Emperors, Yao and Shun, were the first emperors to offer the Border Sacrifices to Shangdi, according to Chinese history.[9]
References
- Wikipedia, "Shangdi" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Clemen, "Religions of the World: Their Nature and their History", Cosmos Publications, 2005 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Shangdi" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Stefon, "Shangdi", Encyclopedia Britannica, 2010-02-03; Stefon, "Shangdi", Encyclopedia Britannica, 2010-02-03; Stefon, "Shangdi", Encyclopedia Britannica, 2010-02-03; Stefon, "Shangdi", Encyclopedia Britannica, 2010-02-03 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Shangdi" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Encyclopædia Britannica", 2011 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Shangdi" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "JSDJ" (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Shangdi" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Stark, "Discovering God: The Origins of the Great Religions and the Evolution of Belief", HarperOne, 2007, p. 252 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Shangdi" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Stefon, "Shangdi", Encyclopedia Britannica, 2010-02-03; Jeaneane D. Fowler, Merv Fowler, 2008, Chinese religions: beliefs and practices, Sussex Academic Press. (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Shangdi" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Wu, 8; Wu, 173 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Shangdi" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Dong Zhongshu. Chunqiu Fanlu. (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- "Ancient Chinese History in Light of the Book of Genesis", www.orthodox.cn. facts only, no text reused. orthodox.cn
Each numbered sentence above was checked against the source it cites before publication. Sentences citing Wikipedia adapt text from the English Wikipedia article Shangdi (contributors), used under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is available under the same licence. Other sources were used for facts only; no text or images are copied from them.
More in Supernatural beings identified with Christian saints
Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Shangdi (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced