Ancient Chinese Ceremony with Parallels to Genesis

the Imperial Vault of Heaven in the Temple of Heaven. ithinkstock photo

There are parallels between the Chinese and the Jewish culture. They have the honor of sharing the distinction for having the longest consecutively preserved cultures and histories in the world. The Chinese author Chan Kei Thong (Finding God in Ancient China) writes that China’s four millenia of history show an amazingly accurate knowledge of the one true God, whom the Jews called “Yehweh” (or Jehovah) and whom the Chinese reverently referred to as “Shang Di.”

In my book, Sacred Strands, the Story of a Redeemer Woven through History, I show the beautiful ceremony in which the emperor sacrificed to Shang Di at the Altar of Heaven (Tian Tan). Hundreds of tourists now visit the Altar of Heaven complex daily.

Here is a song from the stage 1 of the ancient Chinese ceremony: “Of old in the beginning, there was the great chaos, without form and dark. The five planets had not begun to revolve, nor the two lights to shine. In the midst of it there existed neither form nor sound. You, O spiritual Sovereign, came forth in Your sovereignty, and first did separate the impure from the pure. You made heaven; You made earth; You made man. All things became alive with reproducing power.”

This song has many similarities to the words of Genesis 1:1-2, which tells us, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and void.”

The stage 1 of the ceremony continues: “Lord Di, when You separated the Yin and the Yang [i.e. the heavens and the earth], Your creative work had begun. You did produce, O Spirit, the seven elements [i.e. the sun and the moon and the five planets]. Their beautiful and brilliant lights lit up the circular sky and square earth. All things were good. I [Chen], Your servant, thank You fearfully, and, while I worship, present this memorial to You, O Di, calling You Sovereign.”

This song has many similarities to the words of Genesis 1:16-18, “And God made the two great lights, the greater light to govern the day, and the lesser light to govern the night; He made the stars also…and God saw that it was good.”

You can purchase my book, Sacred Strands, the Story of a Redeemer Woven Through History, on my website here.