Divinity of winds (Shang dynasty)

Winds (Old Chinese: *prəm, modern Chinese: fēng) were deified and widely worshipped by the Chinese Shang dynasty (c. 1600 – 1046 BC). The Shang identified various types of winds, each associated with a wind deity, as well as the phoenix. The winds, organized into four directions, were perceived as representatives of the Shang high god Di, carrying his cosmic will. In the Shang dynasty's perception, the winds possessed divine authority and were able to affect various royal affairs. Examples yielded from Shang oracle bone script reveal a large number of texts concerning rituals dedicated to the winds, especially to appease the wind gods to avoid calamities.

The Shang differentiated winds as natural phenomena from deities perceived as able to control them. Studying linguistic elements of Shang characters referring to those notions, scholars have discovered the separation of wind and their deities in different contexts. Oracle bone inscriptions already illustrate that the supreme deity Di possessed the utmost authorities over nature, having the power to send winds along with rain and clouds. The phoenix, identified as a controller of winds, was called "Messenger of Di" (史風) and received its own sacrifices. The deities received animal offerings, of which the majority were canine species, indicated in the oracle bones.