Chinese deity
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Also known as: Di, Shang-ti
Written and fact-checked by
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Shangdi, (Chinese: “Lord-on-High”) ancient Chinese deity, the greatest ancestor and deity who controlled victory in battle, harvest, the fate of the capital, and the weather. He had no cultic following, however, and was probably considered too distant and inscrutable to be influenced by mortals. Shangdi was considered to be the supreme deity during the Shang dynasty (1600–1046 century bce), but during the Zhou dynasty (1046–256 bce) he was gradually supplanted by heaven (tian).
This article was most recently revised and updated by Matt Stefon.
