甲骨卜辞所见之巫者的救灾活动

古人对灾异 ,总是充满惊惧之情。各种救灾巫仪最大的功效 ,即在于安抚人心 ,裨益于众人走出疑惧的阴影。中国古代的巫术 ,便有此功效。水灾 (包括江河之水与雨水 )、旱灾及蝗灾 ,为自然界、自然力量所造成的灾祸 ,但群体与群体之间的武力冲突 ,即为人所招来的灾祸。古人的观念中 ,此种自然灾祸与人造灾祸 ,却与人事、鬼神有不可分的关系 ,古代社会常将防止或禳除此种灾祸的事 ,交付于巫者。此一职事 ,大致可分为“祈雨”、“止风雨”、“战事”、“蝗灾”等四种。

Shamanistic Protective Activities as Seen on Shang Dynasty Oracle Bones

This article discusses the characteristics of shamanistic abilities, as seen on oracle bones from the Shang Dynasty, especially focusing on the activities of shamans against disasters, and by referring to early written texts of pre-Qin China. In ancient China, because of being awed by its powerful impact, ancient people usually were frightened at natural phenomenon. So, through the activites of a shaman, who served as a mediator between humans and gods, and conducted special shamanistic ceremonies, was in the hope that he could save his people from disasters. So was Chinese shamanism was based on this conception. Therefore, in the Shang Dynasty, floods, drought, and insect plagues, were some the natural disasters. In addition, wars between societies was a from of man-made disaster. In concepts of ancient people in China, they thought that disaster was naturally tied to spirits, and was also closely linked to shamanism. So, ancient people in Shang Dynasty usually asked shamans to protect them from disasters. This activity can be classified into making rain, stopping storms, winning wars, and preventing insect plagues.