The History of Magic and Divination in China

By 1600 B.C.E., history of magic and divination in ChinaAnother item to be considered in the history of magic
was already underway. Archaeologists have foundand divination in China, is the Chinese Zodiac.
shoulder bones of oxen and other animals which wereCalculated differently than the western zodiac, ancient
used during the Shang Dynasty. Obviously, the historyChinese took great care to study how the stars,
of magic and divination in China is a long one! The Iplanets, and moon affected their lives. Chinese
Ching itself, which is possibly the best known of allastrologers were men of generally high respect, and
oracular and divining techniques, began at the end ofwere thought to bridge a gap between the people and
the Shang period. That means that it has been in usethe gods of the heavens. With a properly detailed
for over three thousand years!astrological chart, and an advisor skilled in the use of I
Ancient Chinese peoples were believers in spiritualChing, emperors were better aligned with cosmic
matters, and psychic powers. Evil spirits fought againstforces to confront challenges and adopt new principles
protective ones in all facets of these peoples lives.in government.
There was no question of whether such notions wereIn the history of magic and divination in China, we see
reality, in history of magic and divination in China,all of Chinese history. Indeed the two are so closely
because people were open to those forces, and couldentwined that it becomes difficult to relate its political
feel them. Divining the proper course to take was ahistory without relating its adherence to the forces of
natural way of life, and no one who took successpsychic phenomena. From the Shang Dynasty of 3600
seriously, including mighty emperors, ignored the aid andyears ago, to the worldwide acceptance and use of
understanding a reading was able to provide. Thethe I Ching today, the cultural and mystical history of
planting of crops and the migration of nomads wereChina forms a single thread of human understanding
both equally mystical things for which they soughtand acceptance of the universe.
guidance.