National Geographic / July 2003

[sparhawk]

Hi all:

Everybody here should hit the newstand and buy the latest (July-2003) issue of National Geographic magazine. There is a very interesting article about recent excavations in China and the Shang Dynasty.

Cheers,

Luis

[lindsay]

Hi Luis -

Thank you very much! Can?t wait to read the article!

I think it is very much an open question whether the Yi is in the same divination lineage as Shang bone-cracking. The differences strike me as far, far greater than the similarities. A whole different mind-set. And there is a persistent Zhou literary tradition (Book of Documents, Rites) that Shang was an alien culture. The ancient world was full of micro-cultures living side by side. I seriously question whether the roots of the Yi can be found in Shang practices at all. The Yi itself always distinguishes very clearly between the turtle and the stalks. Certainly, when the Shang was conquered, Zhou rulers appropriated certain aspects of Shang culture for prestige and legitimacy. But I do not think there is much of a link between indigenous Zhou and Shang divination practices.

Lindsay

[sparhawk]

Hi Lindsay:

Regarding your premise on the similarities of Shang practices or lack thereof, IMHO, I don't see much conflict. Shang practices were based, for the most part, on yes/no answers, therefore they were Yin/Yang. If the answers were based on this polarity they were a precursor of the Yi as we know it today. Of course, the Yi evolved over millenia to what is known today (and people keeps adding to the bibliography...)

I would say that past the obvious differences, they have a commond ground.

Luis

[val]

It's just a tease, but it's better than nothing until you get the real thing:

http://magma.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0307/feature3/index.html

Val