Study On The Bu(卜) And Shi(筮) In The Spring And Autumn Period

The aim of this article is to discuss the "Bu"(卜)and "Shi"(筮) in the Spring and Autumn Period by 《ZuoZhuan》(《左传》)and 《GuoYu》《国语》, assisted with the archeology and ethnology's materials.In the perface, the article expound the research fruits of other scholars and their drawbacks.Chapter Ⅰis about the history of "Bu"(卜)and "Shi"(筮) before the Spring and Autumn Period. Firstly we give a concept of "Bu"(卜)and "Shi"(筮),and then look back the history of "Bu"(卜)and "Shi"(筮) in the Xia, Shang, and Western Zhou Dynasty. By studying the history, we argue that there is long time before the perfection of "Bu"(卜)and "Shi"(筮).Chapter Ⅱ is concerning the "Bu"(卜)and "Shi"(筮) in the Spring and Autumn Periond.In the historical materials,we can't find detailed datum about procedure of "Bu"(卜),we have to use the archeologiacal datum.Here we divide the procedure of "Bu"(卜) into three steps,that is,stating,drilling and explaining.Stating is to confide to the Gods what one want to divine,something like praying to Gods.Drilling is to operate the tortoise shell,explaining is to explain the fissures of tortoise and the text of "Bu"(卜).The operator of "Bu"(卜) were the augus,the historiographers,but someone else participated in it, especially in explaining the results of "Bu"(卜).Because of lacking of the historical materials ,we have to refer to the 《XiCi》(《系辞传》)to analyze the steps of "Shi"(筮).The reason is that the age of 《XiCi》(《系辞传》)is not far from the the Spring and Autumn Period,besides which,according to the method ,we can explain the "Shi"(筮) correctly.We divide the procedure "Shi"(筮) into three steps ,that is stating ,operating the divination grasses and explaining,the first and third steps are just like "Bu"(卜).The second step is to get one one or two specific divinatory symbols.The operator of "Shi"(筮) were augus and the historiographers as well,but there are others attending "Shi"(筮),especially in the thirsd steps —explainingChapter Ⅲ is to discuss the function of "Bu"(卜)and "Shi"(筮).Firstly we generalize the occasions when "Bu"(卜)and "Shi"(筮) are used,for example ,war ,wedding,personal fate,dream,and so forth.We think that "Bu"(卜)and "Shi"(筮) have five functions,as follows:Forseeing -resolving doubts;Forcast ,disabusing;Strengthening views;Giving Advice.The first two functions are basic ,the later three are derived from the proceding two.In the Spring and Autumn Period ,the first two functions are declining,while the later three functions are increasing their importance.Chapter Ⅳ is to analyze the social positions of "Bu"(卜)and "Shi"(筮).On one hand , "Bu"(卜)and "Shi"(筮) still had authority,people used them frequently and they were used in whether big or small affairs,what's more,there were taboos about "Bu"(卜)and "Shi"(筮),for example"Not violating "Bu"(卜)and "Shi"(筮)"So we conclude that "Bu"(卜)and "Shi"(筮)still played important roles in the Spring and Autumn.On the other hand,the positions of "Bu"(卜)and "Shi"(筮) had declined.Firstly,the declination can be seen from the solving method about the charring shell.If the tortoise shell was not drilled and burned correctly ,it may be charred.Generally speaking ,it is thought unlucky,but the people of Spring and Autumn Period didn't take such attitude.They omitted the charring shell and forecasted on the basis of circumstances.Secondly,people usually violated what the "Bu"(卜)and "Shi"(筮) had forecasted,which means the declination of position of "Bu"(卜)and "Shi"(筮).Finally,people began to use 《ZhouYi》(《周易》)without divination.It means that people only cited the words and expressions of 《ZhouYi》(《周易》) to discuss things.There are two reasons why "Bu"(卜)and "Shi"(筮)declined,as follows:firstly, "Virtue"(德) was becoming more and more important.If one or what one wanted to divine did't conform with the "Virtue"(德),it was unlucky though the result of divination was fo...