Gods in Real Places: Ancient China
Exploring how mountains, rivers, springs and temples were seen as homes of deities, linking the spirit world to the Chinese landscape.
Chapters
- 0:07 Mountains as Sacred Thrones
- 1:34 Rivers and Water Spirits
- 3:01 Springs, Immortality and Hidden Deities
- 4:28 Caves, Temples and Living Guardians
On-screen text
- 0:07 Mountains as Sacred Thrones
- 0:14 Mountains as Sacred Thrones
- 0:31 Zhou kings offered sacrifices on Mount Tai Historical record · Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter on Zhou Rituals
- 0:49 Mount Song linked to Confucian cosmic order The Institute's interpretation · Zhang Zhan, “On the Sacred Mountains” (Tang dynasty scholarly essay)
- 1:07 Chu builds altar on Mount Heng Historical record · Zuo Zhuan, 5th century BCE
- 1:25 Lu Ban links temple placement to mountain qi The Institute's interpretation · Lu Ban's “Yingzao Fashi” (Song dynasty architectural treatise)
- 1:34 Rivers and Water Spirits
- 1:41 Rivers and Water Spirits
- 1:58 Huang He associated with water deity He Bo Tradition / scripture · Classic of Mountains and Seas (Shan Hai Jing)
- 2:16 Zeng bronze vessel offers to river god Jiang Historical record · Bronze vessel inscription from the Zeng State, 5th century BCE
- 2:34 Ritual boat procession on Yangtze Historical record · Book of Rites (Liji), Chapter on Water Rituals
- 2:52 Oracle bone asks phoenix spirit protection Historical record · Oracle bone inscription, Yinxu, 13th century BCE
- 3:01 Springs, Immortality and Hidden Deities
- 3:08 Springs, Immortality and Hidden Deities
- 3:25 Mount Qingcheng spring linked to immortal Xian Tradition / scripture · Huainanzi, Chapter on Immortals
- 3:43 Jade Spring said to be made by dragon king Tradition / scripture · Bamboo Annals
- 4:01 Zhongyuan spring shrine for harvest Historical record · Ming dynasty local gazetteer, “Zhongyuan County Annals”, 1623 CE
- 4:19 Sanxingdui mask may depict mountain deity The Institute's interpretation · Sanxingdui Museum, bronze mask analysis (2021)
- 4:28 Caves, Temples and Living Guardians
- 4:43 5th century CE inscription Historical record · Mogao Cave 285 inscription, 5th century CE
- 5:11 Who protects the mountain?
- 5:28 1580 CE festival record Historical record · Ming dynasty temple records, White Cloud Mountain, 1580 CE
- 6:41 What lives in the stone?
Sources
Historical record: Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter on Zhou Rituals · Zuo Zhuan, 5th century BCE · Bronze vessel inscription from the Zeng State, 5th century BCE · Book of Rites (Liji), Chapter on Water Rituals · Oracle bone inscription, Yinxu, 13th century BCE · Ming dynasty local gazetteer, “Zhongyuan County Annals”, 1623 CE · Mogao Cave 285 inscription, 5th century CE · Ming dynasty temple records, White Cloud Mountain, 1580 CE
Tradition / scripture: Classic of Mountains and Seas (Shan Hai Jing) · Huainanzi, Chapter on Immortals · Bamboo Annals
The Institute's interpretation: Zhang Zhan, “On the Sacred Mountains” (Tang dynasty scholarly essay) · Lu Ban's “Yingzao Fashi” (Song dynasty architectural treatise) · Sanxingdui Museum, bronze mask analysis (2021)
Sound: synthesized ambient (wind, drone, water) (CC0 — made by SoapBox). Made in 190 s of CPU.
Scenes Hathor has no parts for yet (6) — the next things to make
- Ancient farmers standing by the Yellow River, offering grain to a small altar.
- Ancient nobles on a decorated boat gliding down a wide river.
- Ancient nobles on a decorated boat gliding down a wide river.
- A solitary Buddhist monk in simple robes kneels before the wall, candle flame flickering, his forehead bowed in reverence.
- A close view of the mural shows a stylized deity with outstretched arms, clouds swirling, embodying protective energy.
- A monk carefully copies the ancient inscription onto a fresh parchment, ink glistening under a lantern's glow.