Human Sacrifices (Rituals)

1. ==== ====
Get free e-books on a variety of topics from Affiliate Marketing to how to heal with crystals.
http://thothknows.blogspot.com/
==== ====
Were Human Sacrifices Made at the Temple of Heaven in Beijing?
Probably. I can't say for sure but history, references and structures in the Temple of Heaven
indicate that they were made.
First a little back ground on the Temple of Heaven. There are three main structures in the Temple
of Heaven, the Circular Mound Alter, the Imperial Vault of Heaven and the Hall of Prayers for
Good Harvest. The Circular Mount Alter consists of two areas, an inner circular area surrounded
by an outer square wall. There are several minor structures in the outer square area. One of these
structures is a round green tiled oven. An oven apparently used for.... here it comes...... "human
sacrifices". Next to this innocent looking oven is a pit called "the Pit of Hair and Blood".
Circumstantial evidence you say. True. So a quick look at the history of sacrificing humans in
China starting with the Shang Dynasty.
Human Sacrificial History in China
Shang Dynasty - 1766 BC and 1122 BC Also known as the Yin Dynasty ruled a large chunk of
China for just under 650 years between 1766 BC and 1122 BC. During this period China was a
slave society where slaves, non slaves, animals and anything else alive (and dead) made
tempting sacrifices. Here are several examples of humans being sacrificed during the Shang
Dynasty.
Human and animal sacrificial remains were found in Lou Yang city that dated back 2,700 years.
Researchers excavated a 3,300 year old Shang Dynasty palace cum temple complex in the
ancient city of Huanbei. The complex had been stripped of goods then burnt to the ground after 50
years of use. Large number of sacrificed humans were found in the complex.
The Shang may have been pretty simple about sacrificing humans in the beginning but they were
not slow to develop a level of sophistication. They developed a tanged axe called the Yueh that
was initially used as a weapon then later became the ceremonial weapon used to put human
sacrifices out of their misery.
Sacrificing young men and women to river deities (drowning them) and burying slaves alive when
their owners when their owner died was in vogue during the Shang and Zhou Dynasties.
Zhou Dynasty - 1046 BC to 256 BC. Not to be outdone by the Shang Dynasty, the Zhou dynasty
developed both animal and human sacrifice to their ancestors or deities as a routine part of

2. Chinese culture. Bet that is one part of Chinese culture your Chinese friends will not brag out.
Sacrifices where said to be often made to bless houses during this time. Think twice next time you
are invited to the blessing of a Chinese home!
The Zhou Dynasty is regarded by historians as been more humanistic than the Shang Dynasty
because human sacrifices where on the "wane". True to form though, human sacrifice was
practiced for the whole Zhou Dynasty.
Qin Dynasty - 221 BC to 206 BC. Not one to break precedent, the first Emperor had his tomb
provided with the sacrificed bodies workers and soldiers. Personally I'm very grateful he did not
take human sacrifices too seriously and made a Terracotta army to keep him company in the after
life instead a bunch of dead guys that would not make an awesome tourist attraction 2,200 years
later.
Other tombs, notably the Fengyang tomb from the Qin Dynasty were also found with human
sacrifices where the victims were buried alive.
Han Dynasty - 206 BC to-25 CE. Artifacts such as a bronze vessel indicate that human sacrifice
was still widely practiced.
Ming Dynasty - 1368 to 1644. Human sacrifices went out of fashion for a while and by Emperor
Hong Wu in 1395. His son died so to of the princes concubines where sacrificed to keep him
company. In 1464 Emperor Zhengtong forbade the practice of human sacrifices.
Qing or Manchu Dynasty - 1644 to 1912. Human sacrifices came back into fashion AGAIN
(reminds me of the mullet and flairs) only to be banned AGAIN by Emporer Kangxi in 1464.
Conclusion of Human Sacrifice and the Temple of Heaven
Interestingly the Temple of Heaven was completed in 1420 which leaves 44 years during the Qing
Dynasty for it to be used for human sacrifice.
Back to the incriminating green tiled oven and pit of blood and hair. I could not find any direct links
between human sacrifice and the Temple of Heaven BUT there is one very damning reference
that comes up in so much tourism literature. That reference is
In the southeast corner, pine and cypress branches were burned in the green-tiled oven to
welcome the gods from heaven. To bid farewell to the gods, human sacrifices were burned in the
oven. Next to the oven is a special pit called the Pit of Hair and Blood because the hair and blood
of the sacrificial victims were buried here.
In the end, there are 3 convincing points
1-Human sacrifices were widely practiced for most of Chinese history prior to the Temple of
heaven's construction.
2-Common references to the Temple of Heaven include the terms "human sacrifices" and "hair
and blood of sacrificial victims".
3-There is a very obvious oven that was not used to bake potatoes

3. Having a UNESCO listed world famous and very profitable tourist attraction connected with human
sacrifice is not the best PR move so don't expect human sacrifice to be heavily advertised and
promoted. Just go there, experience enjoy the pure awesomeness of this amazing historical site
with a fascinating, colorful and rich history and don't give your tour guide a hard time by asking too
many awkward questions.
This article is Written by Brendon Lang from China Travel Go, an expert blog on travelling in
China.
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brendon_Lang
==== ====
Get free e-books on a variety of topics from Affiliate Marketing to how to heal with crystals.
http://thothknows.blogspot.com/
==== ====