CANNIBALISM
IN
-
-
Practiced from prehistoric times through today.
- No
matter the case, the act was or is either ritualistic in practice or a
desperate behavior necessary for survival.
-Accounts
in general, least reliable in written histories.
-Generally
pre-famine, cannibalism was mostly ritualistic.
-Accounts
refer to acts as having meaning or purpose and not as being the responses to
deathly situations.
-Importance
placed on preparation in ritualistic cases.
-“Hai” = pickle “Peng” = boil “Fu” = dried
Loyalty
Submission/Threat
Starvation
Cannibalism in the Dynastic Histories
-“Xiangshi” = the act of eating another human used
throughout the Dynastic Histories of
-Generally
accounts were desperate responses to deathly conditions brought on by famine.
(War/Natural Disaster)
-Numerous
accounts, not necessarily referred to negatively.
-Famine
was very common, cannibalism was not.
-Very
last straw for the Chinese, very resourceful.
-By
far most common recorded type of cannibalism.
-Cannibalism
now driven by hatred & power, not hunger.
-Emphasis
on keeping the body intact after death lost, ritualistic mutilation and
cannibalism took place.
-Became
a meaningful method of destruction.
Common Purposes
Personal
Vengeance
Punishment/Torture
Bravery/Warlike Passion
-Generally
accounts appear last chronologically.
-Accounts
have no ties to violence, hatred, or hunger.
-Parties
on both sides approve of the acts and consider the sacrifices made as honorable
and sincere.
-Accounts, rumors, and/or myths of tribes practicing cannibalism beyond the boarders of the Chinese empire.
-Accounts from Cultural Revolution. (Red Guards)
-Today
aborted fetuses are bought, sold, and eaten.
- Cannibalism within the center of society, not on fringes.
-Throughout
history acts of cannibalism have either been ritualistic in practice or hunger
induced.
-Not
necessarily always perceived as being “BAD.”