Chapter 33 3. Believe it or not

Zhou people seem to have no belief in ghosts and gods. Like Yin and Shang, Zhou people also had sacrifices and divination, and they were very important.Whenever there are major state affairs, including those of the princes and officials, such as wars, alliances, marriages, and establishment of reserves, they must be divination and sacrifices.These two things have different purposes.Divination is asking, sacrifice is asking.In other words, divination is to ask the ghosts and gods for instructions and judge good luck; sacrifice is to report work to the ghosts and gods and pray for blessings.The division of labor is different, but the importance remains the same. 6

Therefore, from the emperor to the princes, the royal family and the public office have full-time personnel responsible for dealing with ghosts and gods. They are called Zhu, Zong, Bu, and Shi respectively, and their heads are called Taizhu, Taizong, Buzheng, and Taishi.The task of Zhu is to address ghosts and gods on behalf of the priests, so it is especially necessary to know the stories and tempers of ghosts and gods.The task of Zong is to manage the sacrificial procedures, as well as the sacrificial places and utensils.In other words, Zhu Hezong was in charge of offering sacrifices. Those in charge of divination are Bu He Shi.Bu, there are two types.One is to use tortoise shell, also called "turtle" or "bu".The other is to use yarrow, which is called "divine".The book that records divination methods is called "Book of Changes".The tortoise and the divinity may be handled by two persons respectively, or by one person.The results of divination are recorded in history.Of course, Shi not only respects ghosts and gods, but also manages personnel affairs.Later, he became a professional historian. 7

In short, these people were all senior intellectuals and professionals at that time, and they were also the think tanks of the princes. But, it's just a think tank. In fact, Zhu Zongbushi is all technocrats, affairs officers rather than political officials, let alone politicians.Therefore, their opinions are often just "reference news".The princes may listen or not, and may or may not listen.If the results of the divination do not satisfy them, they will ask to start over. For example, Duke Xian of Jin. The story of Duke Xian of Jin has already been told before. He fell out with his three sons Shen Sheng, Chong Er, and Yi Wu because he loved Li Ji.He wanted to make Li Ji the wife of the monarch (the official wife of the monarch), and he would do divination as usual.Use tortoise shell first, the result is not good.Then use yarrow, the result is lucky.The divination person said that the divination is short and the tortoise is long.Turtles are animals, and yarrow is a plant.Animals are more spiritual than plants, so the signs of tortoise divination are more reliable.Xian Gong didn't listen at all. 8

In fact, Zhou people's divination is often just a ritual or psychological suggestion.Make up your mind, I'm afraid it doesn't really depend on this.In 525 BC, Wu defeated Chu.Ling Yin of the Chu State predicted the outcome of the war, which was inauspicious.Bream (read Rufang), the son of Sima of the Chu army, said, we are located in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, so how could it be unlucky?Besides, in divination wars, it is customary for Sima to deliver his fate.I ask to do it all over again. So start over. The young master Bream then issued a commandment to the ghosts and gods: Bream leads his own soldiers to lead the battle with the determination to die, and the Chu State Army follows, hoping to win a big victory, okay?

The sign is: Kat. So Young Master Bream led his troops to charge into the battle, and he died in battle.Sure enough, the Chu army was victorious, and captured a large ship of Wu State.This big ship was so important that Prince Guang (later King Helu of Wu, father of Fu Chai) tried his best to take it back. 9 History books do not record who is responsible for this divination, which shows that the person is not important.In fact, only those who are regarded as prophets can be included in the annals of history, such as Qin Bu's apprentice father who predicted that Qin Mugong would capture Jin Huigong alive. 10 As for those "famous divinations" that have been repeatedly said, they will be even more famous in history.

For example, Bu Yan. Bu Yan was a divination official of Jin State.His best prediction is that Bi Wan's descendants are extraordinary.Bi Wan was originally the charioteer of Duke Xian of Jin.Because of his meritorious service, he was sealed in Wei and promoted to a doctor.Bu Yan immediately said: Wan is a large number; Wei (Tong Wei) is a great name.The first reward is so lofty, this is a hint from the heavens!The people of the Son of Heaven are called "Zhaomin".The people of the princes are called "ten thousand people".The descendants of Bi Wan will be embraced by all people! 11

This has actually been said very clearly, and it is not wrong.Biwan's descendants later became not only princes, but also kings.Their country is called "Wei". Cattle!Such a prophecy is really bullshit.Therefore, the figure of Bu Yan frequently appears in "Zuo Zhuan". There is also Pi竃 (pronounced Rupizao). Pi Yu was a prophet of the state of Zheng. He had successfully predicted the deaths of King Ling of Zhou, King Kang of Chu, and Duke Ping of Jin, as well as the restoration and demise of the state of Chen.He can even tell the exact time. For example, Duke Ping of Jin will die on Wuzi in July, and the Kingdom of Chen will be restored five years later, and will be completely destroyed in another fifty-two years.The basis is mainly astrology.It seems that this person understands astronomy, the five elements, and witchcraft.Therefore, in 525 BC, after he predicted the fires in Song, Wei, Chen, and Zheng, he told Zheng Guoda politician Zichan that he had a way to eliminate the disaster.

Zichan ignored him. In May of the following year, Pi Yu's prophecy was fulfilled, and Song, Wei, Chen, and Zheng all broke out on fire on the same day. Pilong said to Zichan, "If you don't listen to me, you will catch fire." Zichan still didn't listen. Interestingly, the fire never happened again. 12 This makes it impossible to tell whether Pilong is a spirit or not.But it doesn't matter, what is important is a passage from Zichan.It is this passage that gives us a clear understanding of the concept of ghosts and gods of the Zhou people and even the Chinese nation.

So, what did Zichan say? 6.Please refer to Tong Shuye's "History of Spring and Autumn". 7.Please refer to Zhang Yinlin's "Outline of Chinese History". 8.See "Zuo Zhuan·Xi Gong Four Years" for the matter.But it is not this year that Li Ji is the wife of the monarch. 9.See "Zuo Zhuan Seventeen Years of Zhao Gong" for details. 10.For the matter, see "Zuo Zhuan Fifteen Years of Duke Xi". 11.For the matter, see "Zuo Zhuan Min Gong Year". 12.Pilong's deeds can be seen in "Zuo Zhuan" in the 28th and 30th years of Xianggong, and the 9th, 10th, 17th, and 18th years of Zhaogong.