Ancestor spirits
ancestor earth China single tradition · 1
The spirits of deceased parents and forefathers who are believed to watch over the living, protect houses and crops, and lend strength in battle. In Chinese and Japanese tradition they are invoked for patriotic valor and are thought to teach hands to war and fingers to fight. They are honored through sacrifices and spirit-tablets that allow them to commune with the living.
When
- First attested
- 2000 BCE
- Attested period
- 1900 – 2020
- Historical notes
- Ancestor worship is a widespread practice documented from ancient times through modern East Asian societies.
Relationships
- co occurs with
- Confucius (spirit)
Sources
encyclopedia (1)
- peer reviewed
Source passages
“There the mighty dead are present with the living, protect them and their houses and crops, are their strength in battle, and teach their hands to war and their fingers to fight.”
#44037 · extracted by openai/gpt-oss-120b:free