Chinese mythology

Chinese mythology During the Shang dynasty, divination by means of animal bones was used to consult the spirits of royal ancestors on matters such as harvests, rainfall, and the prospects of success in battle. These ancestors were divine and provided a means of communication with the spirit world. A supreme god, Shang Ti, ruled in heaven as Chinese sovereigns did on earth. During the Zhou dynasty, Shang Ti was replaced by T'ien (‘Heaven’) as the supreme being. The Emperor, the ‘Son of Heaven’, was responsible for maintaining harmony on earth and assumed the role of both priest and monarch. Chinese creation myths are essentially the reduction of chaos to order. Later, in conjunction with popular mythology, there existed a formal Chinese pantheon ruled by a father-god, the August Personage of Jade. His heavenly court was an almost exact replica of the imperial court at Beijing. The Sun and the Moon were the objects of an official cult, and the Festival of the Moon was a major annual celebration. Another popular divinity was the Thunder God who punished those guilty of great crime.