Funerary Retainers

Definition

Funerary retainers refer to the practice of burying servants, soldiers, or attendants alongside an elite individual in their tomb as a means to accompany and serve them in the afterlife. This practice highlights the beliefs surrounding death and the afterlife in ancient cultures, particularly during the Shang dynasty, where such rituals emphasized the status and power of the deceased.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Funerary retainers were often sacrificed or buried alive to serve their masters in the afterlife, indicating the deep belief in a continued existence beyond death.
2. The practice of funerary retainers was most prominent during the Shang dynasty, where it demonstrated the hierarchical nature of society and the power dynamics between classes.
3. Excavations of Shang royal tombs have revealed not only human retainers but also elaborate grave goods intended to assist the deceased in their journey to the afterlife.
4. Archaeological evidence suggests that the number of funerary retainers buried with an individual often correlated with their status in life, highlighting social stratification.
5. The decline of funerary retainers in later dynasties reflects changes in religious beliefs and social practices regarding death and the afterlife.

Review Questions

• How do funerary retainers reflect the social hierarchy present in Shang society?
  • Funerary retainers illustrate the social hierarchy of Shang society by indicating that higher-status individuals could afford to have servants or soldiers buried with them. This practice emphasized the power dynamics within the culture, where elite members displayed their influence through elaborate burial practices. The number of retainers often directly represented an individual's status, demonstrating how deeply ingrained class distinctions were in Shang rituals surrounding death.
• Discuss the implications of funerary retainers on our understanding of Shang dynasty beliefs about the afterlife.
  • The existence of funerary retainers offers significant insights into Shang dynasty beliefs regarding life after death. The practice suggests that there was a strong conviction that individuals continued to need assistance in the afterlife, which points to a belief system where earthly status carried over into death. This indicates not only reverence for the deceased but also an elaborate view of existence beyond life that was intertwined with social roles and relationships.
• Evaluate how the practice of funerary retainers evolved over time and its impact on later Chinese dynasties' approaches to burial customs.
  • Over time, the practice of funerary retainers diminished significantly as societal beliefs shifted towards different views on death and the afterlife. As ancestor worship gained prominence and philosophies such as Confucianism took hold, burial customs transformed to reflect respect for ancestors rather than maintaining service relationships through retainers. This evolution not only marks a transition in burial practices but also indicates a broader cultural shift towards honoring lineage and familial bonds, which became central in later Chinese dynasties' approaches to memorializing the dead.

Related terms

Shang Dynasty: The Shang Dynasty was one of China's earliest recorded dynasties, known for its advanced bronze technology, writing system, and complex social structure.

Royal Tombs: Royal tombs are burial sites for members of the royal family or elite, often elaborately constructed and filled with artifacts reflecting the deceased's status.

Ancestor Worship: Ancestor worship is a practice involving reverence for deceased ancestors, which was prevalent in ancient China and is often linked to beliefs about the afterlife.