Ancient China, The Border Sacrifice and Genesis

For thousands of years the Chinese offered a young unblemished bull to Shang Ti (Shang Di) in the Border Sacrifice which ended in 1911 AD.[1]

The Chinese term for God is Shang Ti (上帝) or Sovereign Above or Supreme God.  “Heaven” is often used as a way to refer to God.  Some Chinese scholars explain that, “It is not lawful to use the name of Shang Ti lightly, and therefore we name Him by His residence, which is Tien (天), or heaven - on the principle that 'the Court' stands for 'the Emperor.'”  An ancient History of China states that, “The Yellow Emperor (2698-2598 BC) sacrificed to Shang Ti, gathered the whole populace together, and diffused among them (the principles of) government and religion.”  The Border Sacrifice was also led by Emperor Kù (K’u) aka Dì Kù or Gaoxin or Gāoxīn Shì or Qūn (夋), who was a descendant of the Yellow Emperor and lived from 2435-2366 BC.  K’u was the father of the much-quoted Emperor Yao.

(Encyclopedia of Religion and Ethics – Hastings, Vol. 6, p. 272)

https://archive.org/details/EncyclopaediaOfReligionAndEthics.Hastings-selbie-gray.13Vols/06.EncycReligEthics.v6.Fic-Hyk.Hastings.Selbie.Gray.1914..pdf

 

The Border Sacrifice is referenced by Confucius in his Shu Jing (Book of History) where he mentions that Emperor Shun (~2230 BC) sacrificed to Shang Ti.[2]

Mencius (孟子, Mèngzǐ), born Meng Ke (孟軻), was a Chinese Confucian philosopher and lived around 371 to 289 BC.  He said, “Though a man may be wicked, yet if he adjust his thoughts, fast, and bathe, he may sacrifice to Shang-Ti” (Encyclopedia of Religion and Ethics – Hastings, Vol. 8, p. 549).

https://archive.org/details/EncyclopaediaOfReligionAndEthics.Hastings-selbie-gray.13Vols/06.EncycReligEthics.v6.Fic-Hyk.Hastings.Selbie.Gray.1914..pdf

 

During the Border Sacrifice songs are recited:

 

[First Song] Of old in the beginning. there was the great chaos, without form and dark. The five elements [planets] had not begun to revolve, nor the sun and the moon to shine.  In the midst thereof three existed neither form nor sound. Thou, O Spiritual Sovereign, camest forth in Thy  presidency, and first didst divide the grosser parts from the purer.  Thou madest heaven; Thou madest earth; Thou madest man.  All things with their reproducing power, got their being.

 

[Second Song] O Te [Shang Ti] when Thou hadst separated the Yin and the Yang (the heavens and the earth).  Thy creating work proceeded.  Thou didst produce, O Spirit, the sun and the moon and the five planets, and pure and beautiful was their light.  The vault of heaven was spread out like a curtain, and the square earth supported all on it, and all things were happy.  I, Thy servant, venture reverently to thank Thee, and while I worship, present the notice to Thee, O Te, calling Thee Sovereign.

(Notions of the Chinese Concerning God and Spirits by James Legge, p. 28)

https://jathonthompsoneas.wordpress.com/2019/07/01/rituals-in-the-east-the-border-sacrifice-in-ming-dynasty-folk-religion/

 

[Sixth Song] When Te, the Lord, had so decreed, He called into existence heaven, earth, and man.  Between (heaven and earth) He separately disposed men and things, all overspread by the heavens.  I, His unworthy servant, beg His (favoring) decree, to enlighten me His minister - so may I forever appear before Him in the empyrean [the 9^th or Highest Heaven].

 

[Seventh Song] All the numerous tribes of animated beings are indebted to Thy favor for their beginning.  Men and things are all emparadised in Thy love, O Te.  All living things an indebted to Thy goodness, but who knows from whom his blessings come to him.  It is thou alone, O Lord, who art the true parent of all things.

 

[Eighth Song] The precious feat is wide displayed; the gemmeous benches an arranged; the pearly wine is presented - with music and dances.  The spirit of harmony is collected; men and creatures are happy.  The breast of His servant is troubled, that he is unable to express his obligations.

 

[Ninth Song] The service of song is completed, but our poor sincerity cannot be expressed.  Thy sovereign goodness is infinite.  As a potter hast Thou made all living things.  Great and small are sheltered (by Thy love). As engraven on the heart of Thy poor servant, is the sense of Thy goodness …

(Notions of the Chinese Concerning God and Spirits by James Legge, p. 29)

https://jathonthompsoneas.wordpress.com/2019/07/01/rituals-in-the-east-the-border-sacrifice-in-ming-dynasty-folk-religion/

 

Note the parallels to Genesis and other Scriptures:

Before Christ came, animal sacrifices were required (Gen. 3:21, 4:4, 8:20,21, Leviticus, Is. 53).

In the beginning, darkness before light (Gen. 1:1-5).

The Sun, Moon and Planets were made after the beginning (Gen. 1:14-19).

Man was made after the Heavens and the Earth (Gen. 1:26-31).

The Holy Spirit’s work in creation (Gen. 1:2, Job 33:4).

“All things were happy” before the Fall and Curse (Gen. 1:31, 3:8-24; Eccl. 7:29).

God has a decree (Is. 46:10, Eph. 1:11).

The afterlife is real (Ps. 23:6, Dan. 12:1-3).

There is only one true God (Dt. 6:4,13-15; Is. 45:5)

Worship with music and dancing (Ps. 150).

God’s goodness is infinite (Ps. 147:5, Is. 40:28).

Creation Ex Nihilo (Gen. 1:1, Heb. 11:3, Ps. 33:6-9).

The Lord is the potter (Is. 64:8, Jer. 18:1-6, Rom. 9:21, Job 10:9).

What about Noah’s Flood?  Nelson & Broadberry explain,

 

… the story of the Flood appeared as early as 1000 BC in the Book of Odes (Shih Ching) and the Book of Documents (Shu Ching).  This latter contains the earliest writings in China, predating the oracle bone inscriptions.  The Flood story was also the most pervasive of all other legends in ancient China.  The Shu Ching records: “The flood waters were everywhere, destroying everything as they rose above the hills and swelled up to Heaven.”[3] 

Ancient Chinese Border Sacrifice:

https://tasc-creationscience.org/article/beginning-shang-di

 

The Original “Unknown” God of China by Dr. Ethel Nelson:

https://answersingenesis.org/genesis/the-original-unknown-god-of-china/

Planning a visit to Beijing?

https://www.trip.com/guide/attraction/temple-of-heaven.html

 

Our Creation Study (via Midwest Christian Outreach) – 9 episodes so far!

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJdelscNsYMszOH6dhLx4-CRMqGKfU6-z

 

My books challenge Darwin & Deep Time (vids & podcasts 2): 

https://totalyouth.us/

 

That The World May Know:

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/jay-hall-m-s-b64526a_nestorianism-activity-7488470082730340352-CEDh?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAHbbPwBBTN3-5NHy1Ow3Aqgq-KCW2E14ew

 

Notes:

1) God’s Promise to the Chinese by Ethel Nelson & Richard Broadberry (Read Books, 2014), p. 1.

2) Ibid., p. 2.

3) Ibid., p. 113.

 

** kudos – graphic sources:

https://chatgpt.com/c/6a71e500-2330-83ea-b2cb-fdba950fbc29

https://www.hantrainerpro.com/hanzi/shangdi_god-chinese-character.jpg

https://jathonthompsoneas.wordpress.com/2019/07/01/rituals-in-the-east-the-border-sacrifice-in-ming-dynasty-folk-religion/

https://dimg04.tripcdn.com/images/0M70b12000lyxf5pjF167_Q60.jpg

https://i.pinimg.com/736x/ae/80/fe/ae80fe13baea5868425421b66e61778b.jpg

https://i.pinimg.com/736x/ce/06/4f/ce064fcc70fd2c24a3bde2852718389b.jpg

 

#China #Chinese #Global_Flood #Noah #Ark #Deluge #Border_Sacrifice 🐂 #Beijing #Temple of Heaven #Altar_of_Heaven #Hall_of_Prayer #Apologetics #Genesis #TrueTruth #Schaeffer #Oracle_Bones #writing #Yellow_Emperor #Shang_Dynasty #Darwin #Deep_Time #Nelson #Broadberry #Noble #Creation_Study #Midwest_Christian_Outreach #MCO #East #ASIA #Hong_Kong #God #Shang_Ti #Shangdi #Bible #BB6610 #Jesus #Gospel #JN316 ╬ #Heaven ↑ #Creation #Creation_Week #Sun #Moon #Planets #Five_Elements ✩ #Te #Spirit #Holy_Spirit 🕊 #distraction 🐿 #idols #False_godZ #Satan #music ♫ #dancing #PS150 #inthebeginning #GEN1_1 ! #Mencius #Confucius #dragon 🦖 #Dragons_R_DinoZ ‼ 龍 #bear #Read_Books ! #Religion ╬ #Ethics #Hastings #Potters_Freedom ↑ #Babel #Languages #Every_Tongue #That_The_World_May_Know ╬     

History Channel Supports the Global Flood?

The History Channel has recently shown The Bible miniseries produced by Roma Downey (of Touched by an Angel fame) and Mark Burnett.

In the first episode we see Noah atop the Ark.  We pan out and see the Ark on a world sea with a rainbow in the background.  The view continues to zoom out until the entire planet is seen covered with a worldwide ocean!

In the book version of the History Channel special, The Story of God and All of Us, the Global Flood is clearly endorsed:

Because the evil that Adam and Eve introduced has spread throughout the world, and God is cleaning the earth so mankind can start all over. …

This enormous ship would hold two of each animal.  Once it was complete, God would soak the world in a massive storm, flooding all the lands and killing all of God's creation.  Only the people and animals aboard Noah's ark would live.  God has saved the world by nearly destroying it. [1]

Downey & Barnett seem to think that the Ark was a Large Barge of chaos:

[Noah hears] the bellows of oxen, the whinnies of horses, the bleatings of sheep, and countless other animal cries of distress. … Try as Noah might to muck out the stalls daily, the hold of the ark is a foul place, with little ventilation. … A geyser of water spurts through a new leak in the hull. The women scream. Noah battles to stand and plug the hole. [1]

Downey should have read John Woodmorappe’s comprehensive treatment of issues like these, Noah's Ark: A Feasibility Study.  Maybe Roma Downey needs to be touched by an angel (Acts 12:6-11).

This exile is just like the days of Noah for me:  I promised then that the waters of Noah would never again flood the earth.  I’m promising now no more anger, no more dressing you down (Is. 54:9, Msg).

Note:

1)  The Story of God, click on LOOK INSIDE!, emphasis added.

The Meaning of Fossils

Knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. They will say, Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation. For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished. But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly (2 Peter 3:3-7, ESV)

Would anyone have doubted the reality of the Flood fifty years after it happened? How about 500 years after the Flood? In Post-Babel times certain people groups lost the memory of the Global Flood, yet the rocks cry out and point to the Deluge. Neanderthals put fossils in their graves; could this be because they knew they were relics from the Deluge? [1]
Martin Rudwick wrote The Meaning of Fossils: Episodes in the History of Palaeontology which discusses the history of how fossils came to be understood as once living things. He also explains how fossils were interpreted to represent extinction and evolution.

Xanthos of Sardis (c. 500 BC) understood that fossils were the remains of once living organisms. [2] Xenophanes (d. ca. 490 BC) discovered fossil fishes and shells and thought that the land was underwater in the past. Herodotus (d. 425 BC), the historian, concluded that Egypt was once underwater because of the fossil shells there.
Lucretius (d. 45 BC), Roman poet and Epicurean, held the Young Earth view:

Why have no poets sung of feats before the Theban War and the tragedy of Troy[1200 BC?]. The answer, I believe, is that the world is newly made: its origin is a recent event, not one of remote antiquity. That is why even now some arts are being perfected… [3]

Human history only goes back a few thousand years, so the earth is young. If the earth was made recently, then the fossils must be due to the Global Flood.

Leonardo da Vinci (d. 1519) knew that fossils were once living things, but suffered under the misapprehension that the Flood would have left a blended deposit rather than multiple layers. He held that fossils on the tops of mountains were deposited before the mountains were raised which is perfectly consistent with the Flood.

Tertullian pointed to fossils found on mountains as evidence of the Flood. Augustine saw fossils as the remains of creatures living before the Flood. Martin Luther referred to fossils as being the result of the Deluge in his commentary on Genesis. Agostino Scilla published a work in 1670 on fossils which he illustrated himself which pointed to the Flood as their cause. [4]

Colin Stearn and Robert Carroll, authors of a mainstream paleontology text, freely admit that by the middle of the eighteenth century, “Most [naturalists] attributed them [the fossils] to animals destroyed in the Biblical flood…” [5]

Polystrate fossils, such as a trees passing through multiple strata, clearly indicate rapid deposition. One famous example Terry Mortenson highlights in his book The Great Turning Point (p. 205):
This tree discovered in 1826 is from a quarry in Craigleith, Scotland and is about 80 feet long and goes through about ten or twelve different strata (the angle is about 40 degrees). [6]

Even Darwin himself toyed with catastrophism:

What, then, has exterminated so many species and whole genera? The mind at first is irresistibly hurried into the belief of some great catastrophe; but thus to destroy animals, both large and small, in Southern Patagonia, in Brazil, on the Cordillera of Peru, in North America up to Behring's Straits, we must shake the entire framework of the globe. [7]

Terry Mortenson notes the sad paradigm shift away from Flood Geology:

Catastrophism did not die out immediately, although by the late 1830s few old-earth catastrophists in the United Kingdom, America, or Europe believed in a geologically significant Noachian deluge. [8]

Amazingly, as late as 1892 a Yale professor (Military Science) defended the Deluge. Charles Totten wrote The Flood: the Fact of History defending the feasibility of the Ark. [5]

In addition to the geological indicators of the Flood, there are hundreds of Flood traditions from all around the world.

Notes:
1) Paleontology: The Record of Life by Colin Stearn and Robert Carroll (John Wiley & Sons, New York, NY, 1989), p. 5.
2) Ibid.
3) “Time and Ancient Records” by David Watson, Creation Research Society Quarterly, Vol. 18, No. 1, June 1981, p. 34, emphasis added.
4) The Deluge Story in Stone by Byron Nelson (Bethany Fellowship, Minneapolis, MN, 1968), pp. 9, 10, 18.
5) Stearn and Carroll, p. 6.
6) Nelson, p. 111.
7) The Voyage of the Beagle By Charles Darwin, p. 110 (emphasis added).
8) The Great Turning Point by Terry Mortenson (Master Books, Green Forest, AR 2004), p. 33.
9) Nelson, pp. 154-156.