Touching People with Gods: Droughts and Ritual Prayers in Southeastern China During the Eighth and Ninth Centuries

Between the eighth and ninth centuries, the world entered a second period of strong winter monsoons, which precipitated a series of recurrent natural disasters, including reduced summer rainfall and prolonged droughts. The various types of droughts that occurred in southeastern China are documented in historical records, which also include the official-led ritual prayers to the local deities that were conducted during these challenging periods. As evidenced in these historical records, officials implemented a series of measures to provide solace to the populace, including the restoration of shrines and temples and the offering of sacrifices and prayers to the local deities, such as the Wutang God 吳塘神 and the Chutan God 儲潭神. These actions were intended to leverage the influence of the local deities to mobilise labour and financial resources for the implementation of public works, including the reclamation of barren land and the construction of dikes and ponds. These initiatives ultimately proved instrumental in enabling the populace to withstand the adverse effects of disasters. This approach represents a distinctive strategy for coping with drought in ancient China. It may provide insights into how governments and non-governmental organisations can utilise the influence of religious beliefs to unite people in addressing the climate crisis in the present era.