heavens will, natural disasters, retribution, self-punishement

Ethical Emperor Repents for His Sins by Following Heaven’s Will

A self-punishment decree allowed ancient Chinese emperors to reflect upon themselves and confess their faults to the people. This was a form of repentance for their wrongdoings. The legacy left by traditional Chinese culture can be said to be the contributing factor to respecting and following the will of Heaven, pursuing the unity of nature ...

Emma Lu

Aerial view of a few spotted clouds and the shining sun on the horizon.

The Temple of Heaven: An Imperial Sacrificial Altar in Beijing

Since ancient times, the Chinese people greatly valued praying to gods for blessings and protection. Therefore, worshiping Heaven became a crucial and solemn national ceremony in ancient China. The Temple of Heaven was where the emperor worshiped Heaven and held a ritual to pray for good harvests. Heaven is one of the core concepts in ...

Helen London

Temple of Heaven in Beijing, China.

The Most Frightening Thing Is When People Aren’t Afraid of Anything

Before the Chinese Communist Party usurped power in 1949, the Chinese were a very righteous and moral people. In a revered and sacred way, they were afraid of the ways of God and Heaven. They knew that to defy Heaven brought misfortune and bad luck, and listening to Heaven brought prosperity. Confucius said: “A gentleman ...

Emma Lu

Purple grapes.

The Righteous Way Is the Most Valuable

The journey has many turns and twists. The righteous way of dealing with all conditions and circumstances of life is the most valuable, as eventually, the outcome is always rewarding and fruitful. Toward the end of the Qing Dynasty (1636-1912), a plague spread in a village in southern China. A road through the village divided ...

Emma Lu

A woman in water praying.