A Study On The State Sacrificial Rites In Han Dynasties

The state sacrificial rites were a kind of legitimate religious system in Chinese ancient dynasties. This paper will choose appointed times ——Han Dynasties to go deep into investigating its age characteristics and specific form .The following are brief generalization of the textual theses according to the contents and construction: The "preface" is a prelude to launching out into specific studies. First , we explain theoretically the investigative scholarship value, the review of scholarship history and the studies way to be adopted;we think: whatever angle among the traditional culture ,the sacrifice system and the history of Han Dynasties society we view, the state sacrificial rites are worth well studying ;the problem has suffered a indifferent treatment for a long time from modern age ,at the same time ,it was also a weak part in the realm of historical research of Han Dynasties ,not only it lacked the special papers of systematic studies and the discussion of the managing system of sacrifices but also it existed lots of difference on specific problems such as the angle of view on theory ,the way of clarifying and the knowledge of historical facts ,what's more , a research of a lot of related problems needs to be deepened .So we will under the guide of Marxist matter outlook , hold the practical science attitude , assimilate predecessors' accomplishment , use the related theories for reference ,make good use of the historical documents and archaeological accomplishment from the research of system history angle . Chapter 1 "the general characteristics of the state sacrificial rites before Han Dynasties." In this chapter , we summarize briefly the general characteristics of the state sacrificial rites before Han Dynasties .We think , First ,in the earlier nations such as xia dynasty , shang dynasty and zhou dynasty ,the state sacrificial rites had formed three sacrificial systems which looked the heaven as the highest shrine . And the sacrificial rites became an important part of the state ritural ,as a result ,the sacrificial activity not only had an outstanding position in the state affairs but also had an extensive society effect .Secondly ,with the crumbling of the political ruling in zhou dynasty the sacrificial system had become in those earlier nations encountered the destruction . During the Warring States Period ,the sacrificial rites in different nations appeared distinct regional characteristics ,yin and yang five lines theory(阴阳五行说) and fairy tactics(神仙方术) influenced the sacrificial activity ,the elite of society ,including the Confucianism in aspect of sacrificial theory put forward theoretical interpretation which benefit the ruling of autocratic monarchy .Above the characteristics in the state sacrificial rites before Han Dynasties directly influenced the state sacrificial rites in Han Dynasties . Chapter 2 "the status and the classification of the state sacrificial rites in national affairs" .In Han Dynasties ,the state sacrificial rites continued the developing trend to separate the ritual from the political activity .Although the function of the state sacrificial rites was not so outstanding as the one of the earlier state sacrifice ,from the aspects of officer ,expenditure and the degree of care ,it had still an important position .The state sacrificial rites in Han Dynasties went on the classical characteristics of three systems in earlier nations ,but it had new changes in specific contents . Chapter 3 "the evolving process and rites characteristics of suburb sacrifice (郊祀)", in this chapter we will investigate systemically the suburb sacrifice activity in Han Dynasties from two aspects .First ,we will investigate the shrine of suburb sacrifice from five lords(五帝) to taiyi(太一),empress soil(后土) ,heaven and soil that concrete evolving process .View it from the shrine angle ,the suburb sacrifice in Han Dynasties had an obvious stage characteristics :in the earlier West Han Dynasty it inherited the belief of the tribe in old Qin Dynasty(旧秦) a...