Exploring the Relationship Between King's Authority and Religious Beliefs in Liangzhu Culture Through Analysis of the Divine Emblem

Abstract

Since the successful inscription of an ancient city, the capital of the Liangzhu culture, in 2019, this archaeological culture has become one of the most robust evidence of the 5,000-year history of Chinese civilisation. This paper presents a unique study of the kings power and religious beliefs of the Liangzhu culture, based on the most important symbol of the culture, the divine emblem of half-human and half-animal, in conjunction with the available archaeological data. The study found that the divine emblem was a unity between nature and society and was carved on a jade ritual tool system, mainly jade cong (a pillar-shaped jade vessel), as a carrier of the beliefs of the Liangzhu ancestors. At the same time, relying on the divine emblem and the jade ritual system, the Liangzhu culture had a more mature class stratification, with the highest ruling group, the nobles, and the commoners, respectively. Moreover, the monarchs of Liangzhu controlled peoples beliefs by possessing jade vessels and performing rituals, thus consolidating their class and efficiently invocating productive capacity. Finally, the paper argues that the political system of Liangzhu society was a theocracy, which allowed for efficient centralised rule in the unity of faith. This paper examines the relationship between belief and king power in the Liangzhu culture, starting with its typical symbol of the divine emblem. It will be useful for the rest of the scholars to investigate further the religious beliefs and society of the Liangzhu culture.