商代 東夷 열국과 문화

Abstract

In Korea, studies on Dong-Yi in the era of Shang dynasty until now were mainly focused on whether Shang’s racial origin was Dong-Yi or not. However, Dong-Yi had a lot of influence on Shang civilization. I studied Dong-Yi in the Shang dynasty, focusing their own history and culture. Recent academic circles are trying to incorporate Dong-Yi’s history and culture into China, asserting that Dong-Yi is one of the branches of Chinese race. I payed special attention to their interpretations of archeological remains lest the facts be distorted by records. After analyzing historical records, oracle bone inscriptions, bronze inscriptions and archeological remains, I arranged Dong-Yi’s four cultural peculiarities. First, They were culturally advanced. Second, their stock- farming and agriculture were developed. Third, they accepted culture of Shang civilization actively. Forth, they also had the custom of sacrificing human beings and burying the living with the dead. Dong-Yi seemed to be a potential rival of Shang on account of their fertile land and their advanced culture. Therefore, Shang dynasty conquered Dong-Yi dozens of times. Shang let shamans curse Dong-Yi and performed special ceremonies like ‘望’ to suppress ‘Dong-Yi’s religious power, before attacking ‘Dong-Yi’. It is reasonable to assume that Shang sacrificed Dong-Yi before and after attacking them. I presume that Dong-Yi’s kneeling upon their knees was not their own custom. Shang dynasty celebrated their triumph over Dong-Yi considerably. They not only desired for winning the war by sacrificing Dong-yi, but also sacrificed Dong-Yi after war as a symbol of Shang’s authority. Shang wanted Dong-Yi to bend their knees to them. I presume the name-Dong-Yi- reflects Shang’s mentality.