Author(s)

Jianqu Xiang ¹

Affiliation(s)

¹ Guangzhou Institute of Science and Technology, Guangzhou, 510000, China

Corresponding Author

Jianqu Xiang

ABSTRACT

This paper examines the beliefs of the Chu region during China's Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods as depicted in Qu Yuan's Chu Ci. It challenges the common view that these beliefs are a form of shamanism and argues that the Chu religion centered on "Wu" is a unique polytheistic tradition integrated with political, social, and cultural elements. The paper analyzes the definitions and characteristics of shamanism, the relationship between Chu's "Wu" culture and shamanism, and the features of Chu's polytheistic belief system, including rich mythology, ancestor worship, sacrificial rituals, music and dance, and divination. It concludes that Chu's religion is a sophisticated and multifaceted polytheistic faith that cannot be simply equated with shamanism.

KEYWORDS

Chu belief; polytheistic tradition; Wu; shamanism; Chu Ci

CITE THIS PAPER

Jianqu Xiang, The Polytheistic Tradition of Chu: A Distinct Faith Misunderstood as Shamanism: Based on Qu Yuan's Chu Ci. Journal of Sociology and Ethnology (2024) Vol. 6: 153-158. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.23977/jsoce.2024.060522.

REFERENCES

[1] Jakobsen, Merete Demant. Shamanism: Traditional and Contemporary Approaches to the Mastery of Spirits and Healing. Berghahn Books, 199, pp 2,6-9.
[2] Qu, Feng. "Shamanic Conceptual Analysis and Shamanic Conceptual Reconstruction in Two Contexts." The Religious Cultures in the World, no. 6, 2018, pp147,149,
[3] Shai, Yin. "An Overview of Shamanism Research." Social Science Front, no. 3, 1994, pp 270.
[4] Guo, Shuyun. "A Review of Research on Selected Issues of Chinese Shaman." Ethno-National Studies,no.3,2011, pp 90.
[5] Sukhu, Gopal. The Shaman and the Heresiarch: A New Interpretation of the Li Sao. State University of New York Press, 2012, pp75.
[6] Wang, Siyuan. Proofreading and Translation of Chu Rhetoric. 1st ed., Zhonghua Book Company, 2015, pp 11,151-153,233,249-250.
[7] Tang, Kejing ed. Shuowen Jiezi.1st ed,Zhonghua Book Company,2018, pp 1640.
[8] Relic, Ratka. The Esoteric Symbolism of Shamanic Trance and Altered States Phenomena. Cambridge Scholars Publisher, 2020, pp 59.
[9] Guo, Chenglei. To Explore Some Issues on the Topic of Gods Faith and Sacrifice in Chu-State. Northwest University. June 2016, pp 15,40,45,89,92,148,169.
[10] Gao,Guopan. The General History of Chinese Witchcraft. 1st ed, Phoenix Publishing & Media Inc, 2015, pp5-6,7.
[11] Luo,Yunhuan. Research on Unearthed Documents and Chu History. 1st ed. The Commercial Press. 2011, pp 478,481.

Sponsors, Associates, and Links

---

• Journal of Language Testing & Assessment
  
  
• Information and Knowledge Management
  
  
• Military and Armament Science
  
  
• Media and Communication Research
  
  
• Journal of Human Movement Science
  
  
• Art and Performance Letters
  
  
• Lecture Notes on History
  
  
• Lecture Notes on Language and Literature
  
  
• Philosophy Journal
  
  
• Science of Law Journal
  
  
• Journal of Political Science Research
  
  
• Advances in Broadcasting