Abstract:
In times of the West Zhou Dynasty, imperial clergy in charge of music, history, celebration and church also carried secular duty of offering suggestions and admonitions to kings and barons. Their means of suggestion and admonition had something to do with their religious abilities and techniques, which was characterized by the political form of the West Zhou Dynasty. With the cultural background of knowing the heaven’s will and being related to gods and ghosts, clerical officials like the imperial head of music possessed the power over the secular world. In practice, the political order founded by the Lord of Zhou according to his belief of “establishing education to the will of gods” left enough basis and space for the imperial head of music to offer suggestions and admonitions to kings and barons.
