ABSTRACT
The origins of many religions in the world are based on worship of the natural world. Beliefs and rituals premised on phenomena on natural phenomena hold a significant position in the spiritual world of traditional China. Extending from emperor to commoners, mountains, rivers, lakes, sea, wind, rain, thunder, rainbows, the sun, and the land have been critical elements of the Chinese spiritual landscapes. Many of these natural events or features were deified. And certain animals and plants represented became supernatural entities. Belief practices included ritual sacrifices to deities representing land, water, and important mountains, such as Taihan or Huashan. During the Song Dynasty (960-1234), Chinese ritual practices became more systemized and increasingly became expressions of imperial patronage. Geographical conditions were complicated, and natural disasters were frequent in China. The well-being of the state and local communities depended on predictable and manageable agricultural conditions. At the same time, the imperial dimensions of China meant a multi-ethnic mix of different vernacular practices, particularly in the regions of the northwest. Despite this heterogeneity, there existed a common baseline of belief in the worship of natural phenomena. In short, this chapter explores the relationship between spiritual expression and the environment.
