Sacrifices to Heaven jiao, carried out on the day of the winter solstice in the southern suburbs of the capital, belonged to the category of the main state cults, of which the emperor was an obligatory participant. The information about the procedure of these ritual actions in the Jin State is presented in the 28th juan “Jin Shi”. It describes the ceremonies of offering jade gifts, food, and wine and regulates the actions of the emperor and other participants in the event. The round altar in the southern suburb was intended for making sacrifices to Heaven, but, according to the order, on that day they carried out joint worship of Heaven and Earth, and also revered the first ancestor Tai-zu and other numerous spirit deities, which were divided into categories. The specificity and number of offerings depended on the status of the deity. The ritual described in the 28th juan dates back to 1171 and falls during the reign of Emperor Shi-zong (1161–1189), when the administration of this ceremonial reached its heyday.
Keywords: Jin, jurchen, sinification, worship of the Heaven, jiao sacrifices
DOI: 10.22250/20728662_2022_3_53
About the author
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Marina A. Khaymurzina – PhD (Philosophy), Associate Professor at Chinese Studies Department, |