Studies On The Use Of Sacrificial Jade That Recorded In The Chou Rituals

This paper, focusing on the historical research value of the Chou Rituals,on the premise that most materials of this book are from the fact in pre-Qin period , aims to analyze the records of sacrificial jade that recorded in the Chou Rituals, in order to provide reliable literature basis for the jade culture study.The full text is divided into three chapters, foreword, body composition and the end.The forward briefly reviews the achievements and mistakes of the study of the Chou Rituals, and treats of the possibility and necessity of the use of sacrificial jade that recorded in the Chou Rituals. The forward also presents the objective, structure and methods of this paper.The first chapter basically analyzes the use of jade in the process of sacrifice to Heaven and to the earth, and the shape of the jade that was used in the ceremony. Then I draw the conclusion that the various names of sacrifice, the various ways of sacrifice and the basic shapes of various jade that was listed in the book were all existed in pre-Qin period. But there were no corresponding relationship among the three.The second chapter basically analyzes the use of jade in the process of sacrifice to ancestors, and the shape of the jade that was used in the ceremony. I refute the view held by some scholars that the ancients didn't use jade in the process of sacrifice to ancestors,and make some speculations over the possible shapes of the jade utensils and the Jade-'zan'that was used in the'guan'rite.In the end,I express my agreement to the view that the Chou Rituals should be written in the warring states period with most scholars. And further confirm the time when the book began to be written is in the late warring states period, from the angle of analysis of era and idea characteristics. Finally, I put forward my own views about how to use the materials of the Chou Rituals in the current study of jade culture.