The General Researches Of Zhu Guan System In Zhou Dynasty

Zhu Guan is the official whose main function is to communicate with the deity by special language, and it is an important post in deity system in Zhou Dynasty. The thesis makes a comprehensive study and analysis of the Zhu Guan system in Zhou Dynasty.In the preface, apart from the introduction of the situation of contemporary study of Zhu Guan in Zhou Dynasty, it mainly illustrates the age issue of the data quoted from the book of Zhou Li. Although the data quoted from Zhou Li stretch a long time span, as for Zhu Guan that we concerned, the data is quite reliable for the study of Zhu Guan in West Zhou (Xi Zhou) and Spring-Autumn period.The first chapter analyzes the originality of Zhu Guan. Starting from the font of character Zhu in oracle bone inscriptions and bronzy ware inscriptions, the author studies the basic meaning of the word Zhu from its originality, and combine with the knowledge of anthropology and racial study of the origin of Zhu Guan, the author believes that Zhu Guan, deriving from the Shaman who communicated with god in primeval society, then as an important post in deity system entered into national bureaucratic system and became specialized deity officials. At the final part of the chapter one the author makes a general analysis of Zhu Guan before Zhou Dynasty.The second chapter analyzes the Zhu Guan system. The author studies and makes clear the designation and function of Zhu Guan written in documentary, the appointment of Zhu Guan in dynasty and kingdoms, and the relationship between Zhu Guan of dynasty and that of kingdoms.The designation of Zhu Guan is consisted of Dazhu, Xiaozhu, Sangzhu, Dianzhu, Zuzhu, Nvzhu, Wuyizhu, Jiuxizhu and Yazhu, etc, some of which are national Zhu Guan, and some of which are regional Zhu Guan. They operatedtheir different functions in different situation. At the same time, the author makes a distinction between the designation of Gongzhu, Zhushi Zhuzong and Wuzhu, which always exist divergence in recognition.Zhu Guan performed total 22 functions in big sacrifice activities, such as use special language to communicate with deity and etc.As for the appointment, Zhu Guan worked in the level of the country, region and officials' home. The Zhu Guan in country's level and in region's level maybe exchanged ideas to some extent.The third chapter analyzes the function of Zhu Guan, which can be categorized into "heaven(Tian)", "rite(Li)", "politics(Zheng)" and "martial(Wu)". "Heaven" refers to the function of communicating with deity in various situations and activities in Zhou Dynasty; "rite" refers to the function of organizing ritual activity; "politics" refers to the duty of Zhu Guan as government officials; "martial" refers to the function to command the army. Among all these four functions, "heaven" and "rite" composed of deity system, while "politics" and "martial" composed of civil system.On the basis of the four categories, the author analyzes the characteristic of Zhu Guan's functions^in deity system and civil system.In the deity system, the author makes a comparison between Zhu Guan and officials of Zong, Bu and Shi, who were of the same level in deity system with Zhu Guan. The characteristic of Zhu Guan's functions are that they could communicate with deity; they had religious authority; the knowledge was exclusive to them; they used special language to communicate and it was religious activity. From these characteristic we could find out that Zhu Guan was in the central position in the process of communication between man and deity, and they had the right to communicate with deity with special language. His function was exclusive and cannot be replaced. The function of Zhu Guan was closely concerned with religious sacrificial activities. Zhu Guan's knowledge and technique did not have much civil value, and they almost have...