The influence of witchcraft culture on ancient Chinese water relations-a case study of the Yellow River Basin

Abstract

Due to the limitation of geographical environment and self-knowledge of ancient Chinese, witchcraft culture and ghost culture have a profound impact on the relationship between human and water in ancient China. This study focuses on the development stage of the worship of the Yellow River God and the specific manifestation of the sacrifice to the Yellow River. It focuses on the relationship between human and water in the Yellow River Basin at the early stage of the development of human society, such as the primitive society and the slave society. It analyzes the causes and cultural connotations behind it, and explains the profound influence of witch culture on the ancient Chinese water control history and the modern Chinese water control activities. It has a guiding role in the study of the basic laws of human activities in the modern geographical environment. Witchcraft ceremonies, formed the essence of the ancients’ understanding of nature and the universe under conditions of limited knowledge. Sorcery and ghost culture in ancient Chinese water conservancy activities not only played a role in community cohesion, but also served as a spiritual refuge when people faced great difficulties and disasters.

Keywords

• witchcraft
• yellow river worship
• sacrifice
• flood control activities
• water relations