A Study of the Early Chinese Belief in Heaven

Abstract

The belief in heaven in early China is an important part of ancient Chinese philosophy and culture. There are hundreds of schools of ancient Chinese philosophy, and they have their own unique interpretation and understanding of the concept of heaven. This paper aims to explore the belief based on heaven in ancient Chinese philosophy and analyze its philosophical significance in depth, so as to understand the evolution, characteristics, and inheritance of ancient Chinese philosophy. Through the study of the belief in heaven and the concepts of Destiny of Heaven and Way of Heaven, it is found that these thoughts not only had a profound impact on the development of early Chinese philosophy but also played an important role in the formation and inheritance of Chinese culture. This kind of thought has significance beyond the times and national boundaries, giving enlightenment on the theoretical construction and practical exploration of human society.