Social Sciences in China (Chinese Edition)

No. 11, 2024

Characteristics and Developmental Paths of State Civilization in the Early Shang Dynasty

(Abstract)

Li Xueshan

Ritual and musical activities centered on ancestor worship catalyzed the emergence of state civilization in the early Shang dynasty, with the ritual music system serving as its defining feature. As ritual music became widely employed across various societal levels, the Shang dynasty entered the formative stage of early Chinese statehood. Sacrificial ceremonies and warfare served as the primary sources of the Shang dynasty’s ritual music system. In particular, the sacrificial system represented by Zhou rituals and the gradual maturation of musical systems demonstrated the establishment of a state ritual music framework that integrated music and dance into the Shang’s sacrificial activities. With the comprehensive use and dissemination of musical instruments in warfare, ritual ceremonies in the military sphere typically embodied the will of the state. Sacrificial ceremonies and military practices solidified and formalized the ritual traditions of the Shang dynasty, elevating them into a comprehensive state ritual system. This process charted a distinctive developmental pathway for the Shang dynasty’s early state civilization. The continuity from the Xia and Shang ritual music systems to Zhou rituals underscores the enduring vitality and ever-renewing cultural essence of Chinese civilization, offering insights into its long-standing resilience and cultural inheritance.