Communication With the God : An Archeological Study of the Witch Culture During the Shang and Zhou Dynasty

Chinese Journal of Journalism & Communication ›› 2019, Vol. 41 ›› Issue (11) : 89-114.

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PDF(12462 KB)
Chinese Journal of Journalism & Communication ›› 2019, Vol. 41 ›› Issue (11) : 89-114.

Communication With the God : An Archeological Study of the Witch Culture During the Shang and Zhou Dynasty

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Abstract

Apart from transferring information and sharing meaning, communication also includes human beings’ desire of communicating with the mysterious beyond world. In ancient time of China, such an important duty was undertaken by the witch. In the stage of primitive society, communicating between the heaven and men could be seen as worship and imitation of the mysterious nature power which was based on realistic needs of survival. Approximately around the Shang Dynasty, the emperor monopolized the power of communicating with the divinity. The phenomenon of power centralization was legalized through such a viewpoint that vulgar power was an image of cosmos operation order. A value system which was abstracted by personal moral character, which replaced the supernature power, became the object of communication carried out by the rulers. Emperor’s moral character, instead of divine right, became the legal approach of secular power and order.

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Archeological of communication / Witch culture / Sanctity

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Communication With the God : An Archeological Study of the Witch Culture During the Shang and Zhou Dynasty[J]. Chinese Journal of Journalism & Communication. 2019, 41(11): 89-114
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