Image Credit: Antiquity (2025)

Ritual Platforms in Shandong Reveal Roots of Chinese Unity

Archaeologists in Shandong Province, China, have uncovered three ritual platforms dating from around 3,000–2,400 years ago. These findings show that public gatherings and shared rituals played a key role in forging a collective cultural identity long before China’s political unification under the First Emperor, Qin Shi Huang.
The platforms, excavated at the site of Qianzhongzitou, were constructed from layers of colorful earth and contained inscriptions of the character 土 (tu, “earth”), suggesting they were linked to earth worship. Remains of food and cooking vessels reveal that the platforms were used for large public feasts and ceremonies.
Researchers argue that these gatherings helped integrate diverse communities and spiritual practices, paving the way for stronger states. Over time, such rituals were incorporated into the official belief systems, eventually inspiring the “Eight Deities” worship that influenced early Chinese cosmology.
This discovery emphasizes that China’s unification was not only a military or political process but also one deeply rooted in shared ritual practices that bound people together across regions.

Published on: 07-10-2025

Source: Phys.org