The Origin of the Yazhang from the Perspective of a Thunder God's Ritual Utensil
Yazhang,a jade ritual utensil popular in the East Asian mainland from the late Neolithic Age to the Bronze Age for over a thousand years,is based on the prototype of agricultural implements such as shovels and plows,and serves as a ritual utensil for worshiping the Thunder God to pray for rain.During the Zhou dynasty,it evolved to have military functions such as"marching troops,""managing military defense,"and"jade symbols."The name"Zhang"of Yazhang,with the upper part being"xin,"symbolizes the hammer and axe of the Thunder God,and the lower part resembling a column drum,also remains a symbol of the Thunder God.Characters with"Zhang"as a radical,such as Zhang(璋),Camphor(樟),and Roe Deer(獐),are all related to the belief in the Thunder God.The roe deer tooth hook-shaped instruments and the burial accompaniment of roe deer teeth popular in the Dawenkou culture are also one of the expressions of the belief in the Thunder God.
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