Imperial Religion

Beijing as ritual Center | Chinese Historical Eras

Shang Di / Tian

Tian Ming

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Altar of Heaven

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From early times, the Chinese have viewed their world as populated by gods, powers, forces, and ancestors, all of which could effect human well-being. Supreme among these phenomena was Shang Di, Lord on High, who ruled over the material, spiritual, and human worlds. Like the emperor, Shang Di remained remote and aloof from the everyday affairs of the people. Tian, Heaven, gradually replaced Shang Di as the ulimtate cosmic ruler. Unlike Shang Di, however, Tian was viewed as an impersonal force rather than a god. Tian was instrumental in providing for the well-being of people either through natural forces or by conferring and withdrawing the Mandate of Heaven from the ruler. Tian Ming, the Mandate of Heaven, refers to the moral legitimacy conferred on rightful rulers by Heaven. The mandate was conferred directly as a reward for moral virtue or through a ceremony. Since it was conferred by Heaven, it could also be withdrawn by Heaven when the rulers acted unjustly or failed to perform the proper ceremonies. The concept appears to have been developed by the Zhou to justify their overthrow of the Shang dynasty. In later dynasties, Tian Ming was used as the foundation for revolts or social problems. Such events were viewed as omens that suggested the moral legitimacy of the ruler was in question and that the mandate was about to be withdraw.

Bejing as a Ritual Center
Beginning in Zhou Dynasty, Heaven was worshipped in the Beijing suburbs. By the Ming Dynasty, the capital city Beijing played an enormously significant role as a ritual center for religious duties of the emperor. The city itself served as a large ritual complex with the various altars and the Temple of the Ancestors at the edge of the center and the Forbidden City with the imperial throne at the center. It was at the throne where Heaven and Earth came together. During the winter solstice the emperor performed the appropriate rituals at the Altar of Heaven and at the Altar of Earth during the summer solstice. These rituals ensured the transitions from one season to the next by bringing Heaven and Earth into harmony.

Historical Periods

Name

Subdivision

Dates

Pre-Imperial
  • Emperor Yao (legendary)
  • Emperor Shun (legendary)
 3rd millennium, B.C.E.
Xia c.2183 - 1752 BCE?
Shang 1751 - 1112 BCE?
Zhou 1027 - 249 BCE?
  • Western Zhou
  • Eastern Zhou
  • Spring and Autumn
  • Warring States
  • 1066 - 771 BCE
  • 771 - 221
  • 722 - 481
  • 480 - 222
Qin 221 BCE - 206 BCE
Han 206 BCE - 220 CE
  • Western Han
  • Jin
  • Eastern Han
  • 206 BCE - 23 CE
  • 9 - 23 CE
  • 25 - 220
Three Kingdoms
  • Wei
  • Shu Han
  • Wu
  • 220 - 265
  • 221 - 263
  • 222 - 280
Jin 222-280
  • Western Jin
  • Eastern Jin
  • Sixteen Kingdoms
  • 265 - 316
  • 317 - 420
  • 304 - 420
Southern & Northern Dynasties 420 - 589

Southern

  • Liu Song
  • Southern Qi
  • Liang
  • Qen

Northern

  • Later Wei
  • Eastern Wei
  • Western Wei
  • Northern Qi
  • Northern Zhou

 

  • 420 - 479
  • 479 - 502
  • 502 - 557
  • 557 - 589

 

  • 386-535
  • 534-550
  • 535-556
  • 550-577
  • 557-581
Sui 581 - 618
Tang 618 - 907
Five Dynasties 907 - 979
  • Later Liang
  • Later Tang
  • Later Jin
  • Later Han
  • Later Zhou
  • 907-923
  • 923-936
  • 936-47
  • 947-950
  • 951-960
Liao 947 - 1125
Song 960 -1279
  • Northern Song
  • Southern Song
  • 960-1127
  • 1127-1279
Western Xia (990) - 1032 - 1227
Jin 1115 - 1234
Yüan 1279-1368
Ming 1368 - 1644
Qing 1644 - 1911
Republic of China 1912 -
Peoples Republic of China 1949 -
   
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