Why ritual is so important in Ancient China?

In traditional Chinese society, the two biggest events were war and rituals, with a special focus on sacrificial ceremonies. （國之大事，在祀在戎）These rituals were super detailed and strict, controlling every part of a person’s behavior during the ceremony. The earliest book that recorded Chinese social etiquette, including these rituals, is called the Rites of Zhou（《周禮》）.

When it comes to sacrifices, different words were used depending on who was being honored. "Si"(祀） was for offerings to gods up in heaven, "ji" （祭）was for gods of the underworld, and "xiang" （享）was for the spirits of people who had passed away, especially ancestors.

In Chinese culture, sacrifices were mostly about honoring ancestors and gods. The gods often came from legendary stories, usually tied to nature—like water, fire, or land. Other gods started as ancestors who, after doing heroic things like saving lots of people during a disaster, earned the people’s faith and reverence. This process is a bit like how the Catholic Church canonizes saints, recognizing people for their amazing deeds.

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