Shang religion centered on Ancestor Worship. They also believed that the dead ancestors had the power to help or harm the living. For this reason, the Shang honored their ancestors. As signs of respect, worshippers gave offerings of food, and sometimes made human sacrifice.
Kings used Oracle Bones to seek their ancestors' advice on important matters such as when to hunt, where to build cities, and whether to go to war or not. Oracle Bones were made of the shoulder blade of a cow, or turtle shells. To ask the ancestor a ?, a holy man would make a statement such as: " Tomorrow is a good day for a hunt." Then the Holy man would press a hot needle against the back of the bone. Then the heat from the needle would make the bone crack. The pattern of the cracked bone would turn out to be a message, which the holy man or a king would translate.
Kings used Oracle Bones to seek their ancestors' advice on important matters such as when to hunt, where to build cities, and whether to go to war or not. Oracle Bones were made of the shoulder blade of a cow, or turtle shells. To ask the ancestor a ?, a holy man would make a statement such as: " Tomorrow is a good day for a hunt." Then the Holy man would press a hot needle against the back of the bone. Then the heat from the needle would make the bone crack. The pattern of the cracked bone would turn out to be a message, which the holy man or a king would translate.