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Gods, Ghosts and Ancestors: Chinese Social Structure - Essay

Gods, Ghosts and Ancestors: Chinese Social Structure

The main thesis of Arthur P. Wolf's article "Gods, Ghosts and Ancestors" is that these three categories of supernatural beings are determined by the social structure of Chinese society. Using case studies, personal anecdotes, interviews, and observations of ritual, custom, and lifestyle, the author proves his point by carefully delineating the different classes of supernatural beings. Wolf shows how these beings and their hierarchies reflect the hierarchies and bureaucracies in the human realm. For example, the gods rest on the highest rung of the supernatural status ladder. As such, the gods represent the nobility: the emperor and the imperial government as well as upper-level ...

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ways equally revered. The spirits of the deceased watch over and protect the living members of that family line. Wolf shows that there are strict rules regarding which family members can or must be worshipped. The rank of ancestor spirits closely mirrors the rank of family members. For example, the head patriarch of a family line will be given the most prominent spot on the family altar. Those family members who are not respected as much will also not be revered as diligently during times of worship.
Finally, ghosts form the third class of supernatural beings Wolf discusses and analyses. Ghosts are on par with beggars and bandits, according to the author. They occupy the lowest rung of the social ladder in both the human and supernatural realms. According to their lowly status, ghosts are appeased out of fear or resentment, much as a beggar or a bandit might be.
Wolf's discussion is fascinating and lends insight into the complexities of Chinese religious practices and beliefs. ...

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Gods, Ghosts and Ancestors: Chinese Social Structure. (2016, January 21). Retrieved January 22, 2025, from http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Gods-Ghosts-Ancestors-Chinese-Social-Structure/105384

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PAPER DETAILS

Added: 1/21/2016 10:16:14 AM
Category: Asian Studies
Type: Premium Paper
Words: 1016
Pages: 4

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