[Mindless rambling 12- part 1]

 As mentioned in the previous post, today’s topic will be shifting towards importance of offering to our ancestors. (But its a big topic, I will break it to parts to prevent a potential overload) Although that really seems superstitious to us, it has part of its root ironically, in a dynasty that is known to be not being superstitious- the Zhou dynasty (Establish around 1046 B.C).

The reason why the Zhou-reans are not begin superstitious is very simple, the dynasty before them, the Shang are very superstitious, believing the power of the supernatural and make extravagance offering, seeking their power and protection. After the Zhou-rean defeated the Shangs, they started thinking: Hey, the Shang has been making so many offering, prayers and stuff. Why the supernatural didn’t conduct a recuse attempt to their believers? Gradually, they rejected the notion of powerful supernatural beings (like god) giving guidance and power to believers. Instead, they began to rely on the value and virtue of Man. Does that mean that they total rub off the influence of Shang? They do get rid of most but changes some. They believed in the Mandate of Heavens. However, the main difference is, the mandate flavours the virtue, not the prayers and offerings. Evidence of this can be found in the Book of History (Which recorded some history during this era) they have phrases like “天聪明，自我民聪明; 天明威，自我民明威。”（The Heaven listen and hear though the eyes and ears of the people, The Heavens reward and punished through the people ）, “皇天無親，惟德是輔”（The Heavens is not close to anyone, they only assist those with virtue ）, “天不可信，我道惟甯王德延”( Heaven is not believable. Our way are extent by the virtues of Kings ). Academics coined the term “Humanism” to describe this shift in Paradigm. When Confucian was born several hundred years later (a time which the social and political system are at the verge of collapse), he further empathized that the virtue can be completed by every Man (Virtue in the past only applies to nobilities), being a dignified way of life even if circumstances encourages us to do otherwise (Further removing direct reference to certain mandate). For a culture who excel in moral education despite lacking of a religious institute (Which I definite as a system which includes a supreme being above all beings), Confucian do indeed done a very great job in upping the thinking in Humanism.

But why conducting rituals, making offering to the Heaven, Earth and Ancestor? Isn’t that still being Superstitious? Well, not believing in something doesn’t mean that I can be disrespectful for their potential existence (I cannot prove that they exist. But I can neither prove that it does not exist). Besides, WE do rely on Heavens and Earth and Ancestors to even exist in the first place, Can’t they show their appreciation to Papa heaven, Mama Earth, who unlike us modern-ers (simply ungrateful X) do not really pollute, the sky and destroy the earth? As for the offering to ancestors, it’s greatly tied to Filial Piety, a way of life that has been commonly misunderstood by most Singaporean Chinese. But since this post has been getting a bit too long, I should pause it for a while and continue tomorrow(Please forgive me, Its a rather complex topic).