"Sacred Salt" and "Salt God": The Mysterious Salt Worship

The magical power that salt bestows on mankind and the difficulty of obtaining it are the reasons for the emergence of salt worship.

In the early human thought, salt has always played the role of a divine object. It has been worshipped even to the point of superstition, and this practice has continued to this day.

British scholar Jacob Bronowski wrote in his book The Ascent of Man: "Salt has always had a certain symbolic nature in all cultural forms. People still call the money paid to a person "salt money" like the ancient Roman soldiers did."

01 Shaped salt, a national ritual vessel

In ancient my country, salt has always been a tribute and a ritual vessel. In the Zhou Dynasty, there was a saying that "Rong salt was a tribute". Tiger-shaped salt is salt made in the shape of a tiger, which is specially used as a gift and for sacrifice.

In Zuo Zhuan, Duke Xi's 30th year, there is a record that King Xiang of Zhou sent Duke Zhou to Lu with rice, millet, and salt as gifts. In Zhou Li, there is also a record of the people of the bamboo basket bringing salt to the court.

The practice of offering shaped salt as a sacrifice has been imitated by successive generations. In a poem describing temple rituals, a Tang Dynasty poet wrote the line "Shaped salt is not something that can be brought forward, like jade beans that are hidden in the air."

In the Yuan Dynasty, although salt was no longer used as a gift, sacrifices still followed the ancient rituals and used shaped salt as a sacrifice. During the Five Dynasties, Zhang Ying, a man from the Later Zhou Dynasty, wrote a poem specifically for shaped salt. In "Shaped Salt Fu", he wrote: "Salt is shaped like a tiger, standing on the Qizhi Mountain. The tiger is the most powerful beast among all beasts, and salt is the supply of tens of thousands of people. The combination of the two beauties makes it a whole, and what shame can compare to it... Its meaning is commendable, and its beauty is praiseworthy. ... The meaning is to take the king, the culture is enough to show virtue, and the martial arts to stop the war. It is so precious at the time that nothing can compare to it. Therefore, the heavenly officials describe its duties, and the Spring and Autumn Annals praise its name."

The worship of salt has reached an unprecedented height here, which is the most authentic record of salt being regarded as the "national treasure".

▲Ancient sacrifice. Picture/from the Internet

02 Salt Monopoly System

The worship of salt is also reflected in the fact that all countries have implemented salt monopoly throughout the ages. Even today when there is no longer a shortage of salt, salt is still subject to state monopoly.

In 1957, the State Council's Order No. 33 still included salt in the list of 38 commodities under central management. In 1982, the state reaffirmed that salt was one of the 16 commodities in the country and implemented a mandatory plan. In April 2006, the National Development and Reform Commission issued Order No. 45 on the Management Measures for Salt Monopoly License, deciding to implement a monopoly on salt. It was not until April 21, 2014 that this law was officially declared abolished.

In fact, the monopoly of salt began as early as the Spring and Autumn Period. Duke Huan of Qi asked Guan Zhong about the way to enrich the country and strengthen the army, and Guan Zhong suggested the policy of rectifying the salt policy. According to Guanzi: The King of the Sea, Duke Huan said, "Then how can I govern the country?" Guan Zi replied, "Only the mountains and seas can be governed." Duke Huan asked, "What do you mean by governing the mountains and seas?" Guan Zi replied, "The country of the King of the Sea should rectify the salt policy." Guan Zhong is therefore considered to be the beginning of my country's salt policy.

▲Guan Zhong's policy on salt regulation is considered to be the beginning of my country's implementation of salt policy. Image/Source: Internet

In the following two thousand years, no matter how the dynasties changed, all regimes implemented a government monopoly on salt. The monopoly on salt was not only a worship and emphasis on salt, but also because of the huge economic benefits. The "New Book of Tang: Food and Goods" wrote very bluntly that "half of the taxes in the country are from salt, and the royal family, military pay, and salaries of all officials are all supported by it."

The result of the salt monopoly was the formation of salt administration offices, salt officials, salt merchants, and the subsequent private salt. As early as the Zhou Dynasty, the official position of "Salt Man" was set up to specialize in salt affairs and in charge of salt administration. In the Sui and Tang Dynasties, there were salt supervisors and salt secretaries. In the Song Dynasty, there were salt and iron envoys, and at the road level, there were tea and salt offices.

The Ming Dynasty established a complete salt administration system. The national salt administration was under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Revenue. In major salt-producing areas, a Salt Transport Commissioner's Office was set up, and in salt fields, a Salt Tax Office was set up. In addition, above the Salt Transport Commissioner, there was a post of Salt Inspector, and the emperor would specially dispatch ministers every year to manage the salt administration affairs of a region.

Lin Ruhai, the father of Lin Daiyu in A Dream of Red Mansions, was a salt official inherited from the Ming Dynasty - the Yangzhou Salt Inspector. Famous people in history such as Yan Shu and Fan Zhongyan were also born in salt officials.

▲Daiyu bids farewell to her father in "Dream of Red Mansions". Lin Daiyu's father, Lin Ruhai, was the salt official inherited from the Ming Dynasty - Yangzhou Salt Inspector. Picture/Sourced from the Internet

The harsh salt and iron monopoly protected the interests of the country, but often sacrificed the interests of the people. In particular, the collusion between salt officials and salt merchants could seriously damage the interests of the people.

In the Song Dynasty, Su Dongpo wrote a memorial to the court, entitled "Petition to abolish the salt monopoly in Denglai", in which he pleaded for the people to abolish the salt monopoly. The strict salt control in the Yuan Dynasty indirectly led to the demise of the Yuan Dynasty.

In 1353, Zhang Shicheng, a salt trader who was born in the salt industry, could not bear the harsh salt policy and led 18 salt workers to revolt against the Yuan Dynasty, which was known as the "18-carrying-pole uprising". Although Zhang Shicheng had to surrender to the Yuan Dynasty in the end and became a "traitor of the peasant uprising", the "18-carrying-pole uprising" greatly weakened the vitality of the Yuan Dynasty and played a role in promoting the demise of the Yuan Dynasty. Historians therefore say that the Yuan Dynasty fell due to the salt policy chaos.

▲Unable to bear the harsh salt policy, Zhang Shicheng led 18 salt workers to revolt against the Yuan Dynasty, which is known in history as the "18-carrying-pole uprising". Image/Source: Internet

03 Divine Salt Everywhere

Salt is not only a national treasure, but also regarded as a god by the ruling class. In the folk, salt is also regarded as a god.

Different from the official practice of giving salt as gifts and tributes, folk worship mainly focused on the discoverers of salt springs and the masters of salt making, that is, the worship of the "Salt God".

China has more industry idols than any other country in the world. Ji Xiaolan of the Qing Dynasty said in his Notes from Yuewei Thatched Cottage that "there are 360 ​​professions, and none of them can be established without a ancestor".

Among all kinds of industry gods, the gods of the salt industry are the largest and most complex. But strangely, there is no national common salt god. Not only that, even different salt fields such as sea salt, pond salt, well salt, and rock salt worship different salt gods.

The Lianghuai Salt Fields enshrine Susha and Guan Zhong; the Changlu Salt District enshrines Salt Grandma and Zhan Dayu; and the Sichuan Salt producing areas enshrine even more salt gods, including Zhang Daoling, the Twelve Jade Maidens, the Mountain Founding Grandma, Mei Ze, Fujia, Yang Boqi, Seng Yixin, the Four Well Gods Ai, Tan, Hui and Meng, the Yan Emperor, and Chi You.

Some people who are curious about the ancient salt gods have done a rough research and found that there are more than 30 of them. Among these countless salt gods, in addition to the gods and immortals who have a direct relationship with the salt industry, some have nothing to do with salt. For example, in the Ming and Qing dynasties, Yan Zhenqing was once regarded as the salt god. The reason was simply that he was once the Duke of Lu County, known in history as Yan Lu Gong, and he was made the salt god because of the homonym of "salt brine".

▲It is said that Emperor Yan and Chi You were both salt gods. Image/Source: Internet

04 Who is the ancestor of salt?

Every industry has its own founder, as the saying goes, "No industry can stand without a ancestor."

As we know, Lu Ban is the undisputed founder of the construction industry, and Huang Dao Po is the founder of the textile industry. But when we talk about the salt industry, it becomes chaotic. Among the numerous salt gods, we can't find a unified salt ancestor.

Some people say that Guan Zhong is the founder of the salt industry. He regulated the salt pods, the mountains and seas, and set up officials to cook salt. However, he only set a precedent in the official operation of salt and iron. He is the ancestor of salt administration, not the founder of the salt industry. Moreover, Guan Zhong is also the ancestor of brothels. It is said that state-run brothels were also founded by him. One person is two gods, and the world is too high for him.

Some people believe that Susha is the ancestor of the salt industry, based on the words of Lu Chen quoted in Taiping Huanyu Ji: "Susha boiled the sea, and was called the 'salt ancestor' and respected." However, Susha boiled the sea, which was only the origin of sea salt. Lake salt, well salt, rock salt, and pond salt areas did not recognize his status as the ancestor, so he was only a local god and could not rule the world.

Everyone has their own opinion on who is the ancestor of salt, and there is no way or need to unify them. It is better for everyone to worship their own gods and build their own temples.

▲The Salt Temple in Luoquan, Zizhong is the only preserved Salt Temple in my country. Photo/Linka

05 Mysterious Salt Divination and Salt Witch

Divination was an important activity for the ancients. From big things like the fate of a country, the disasters of war, and the future of the country to small things like good or bad luck when people went out, built houses, and got married, they often had to predict things through divination.

The "Records of the Grand Historian: Biographies of the Turtle and the Divine" records: "Although the barbarians, the Di and Qiang tribes have no hierarchy, they also have divination to resolve doubts." There are many ways of divination, such as using a planchette, cloud divination, asking for lots, and splitting characters, etc. The tools are even more varied and varied. Salt divination is one of them.

In many places, there is a simple salt divination method. This method is called the salt sprinkling method. The fortune teller randomly sprinkles a handful of salt on a flat surface and makes divination based on the shape. Or put some salt into a glass bottle. Shake the bottle several times and then print the salt on the lid on the palm of the person being divined. The pattern of the salt on the palm can be used to predict good or bad luck.

▲Salt fortune telling. Image/Sourced from the Internet

In addition, some people use salt to predict weather changes. They take out three pieces of salt and throw them into a bonfire. If you hear the salt in the fire making a "crackling" sound, it is a sign of good weather. If there is no sound, it means that the weather is about to get bad. This divination method is usually used by people who have lived in mountainous areas for many years. But in fact, this "seeing the sky with salt" activity seems mysterious, but it contains scientific principles. Whether the salt makes a sound in the fire is actually related to the humidity in the air. When the wind and rain are about to come, the air humidity is high. The salt is damp and will naturally become mute when thrown into the fire.

Witchcraft is a means of trying to use supernatural mysterious power to influence people or things to achieve a certain purpose. It is the oldest and most common belief. Generally speaking, witchcraft requires certain items and specific means (spells, actions) to be performed. Among them, witchcraft supplies are extremely important. Without suitable items, it is difficult to perform corresponding witchcraft or achieve satisfactory results. Salt often plays an important role and plays a "mysterious" role.

▲Salt divination. Image/Sourced from the Internet

"Sprinkling salt and rice" is the most commonly used witchcraft and custom among the people. For example, whenever a child is "rushed by evil spirits" and cries at night, the adults will put salt and rice grains in a red cloth bag and perform the "sprinkling salt and rice" ritual to drive away the evil spirits and calm the child.

In the Uyghur folk, when a new house is built, the owner must first move salt or salt gourd into the new house. They believe that after moving the salt into the new house first, the family can live a better life. The word "Tuzikur" often appears in the Uyghur folk curses. "Tuzi" means salt, and "kur" means blind. Together, it means "I will use salt to make you blind."

In Tiantai Village, Zhejiang Province, if someone suffers from unexplained swelling or pain, they will ask an old woman to rub the swollen and painful area with her hair and hot salt. This is called "ghost-catching arrow". It is said that after a few times, the patient will be cured.

▲Ancient salt vessels. Image/Sourced from the Internet

06 Battle over Salt

Salt is a national treasure and has been regarded as a national strategic resource by rulers of all dynasties. It is related to the country and people's livelihood. Wars for salt are inevitable. When the heroes compete for hegemony, whoever controls the salt will have wealth and power, and will be invincible. Therefore, there are countless wars for salt in history.

The first battle for salt in Chinese history was the Battle of Yanhuang Banquan.

Legend has it that Huangdi and Yandi were brothers, and they were the leaders of the Ji and Jiang tribes respectively. Yandi, who lived in the northwest of the Yellow River basin, saw that the land in the middle reaches of the Yellow River was fertile and rich in products, so he led his tribe to migrate to the southeast, thus causing a war conflict with Huangdi.

In order to fight for the ancient Shanxi Jiechi, which was rich in pool salt, the two sides fought three major battles in Banquan (now the upper source of the salt pool in Jie County, Shanxi). In the end, Huangdi conquered Yandi, and Yandi's tribe was incorporated into Huangdi's tribe. Huangdi replaced Yandi as the leader of all the tribes in China.

Later, the Battle of Zhuolu between Huangdi and Chiyou was also to defend the control over the salt lake. After killing Chiyou, Huangdi "established his city in Zhuolu". After that, Yao made Pingyang (Linfen, Shanxi) his capital, Shun made Puban (Yongji, Shanxi) his capital, and Yu made Anyi (north of Yuncheng, Shanxi) his capital. They all established their countries around the salt lake, which shows the important position of salt in the history of human development.

▲Chiyou became the loser in the battle for the salt lake. Picture/from the Internet

In today's Sichuan and Chongqing, the Ba and Shu people who lived there all lived for salt, established their kingdoms with salt, and fought for salt. The "Book of the Later Han Dynasty: Biography of the Southern Barbarians and Southwestern Yi" and "Taiping Yulan" both record the story of how the Ba leader Linjun used a trick to shoot and kill the salt god, seized the salt land, built Yicheng, and established the Kingdom of Ba. This was also the first battle for salt in Bashu. Although the Kingdom of Ba was later destroyed by Qin, the conflicts between the descendants of Linjun and the rulers over salt continued.

The longest salt war in Chinese history is said to be the war between Qin and Chu. According to historical records, the Qin conquered Ba and Shu, and the beneficiaries were the Chu people, who took over all the salt fields of the Ba people. The Qin State, unwilling to work in vain, led an army of 100,000 under the leadership of Sima Cuo to attack Chu. After failing in the water route, they switched to land to seize the Yushan Salt Field (now Chongqing). Nineteen years later, the two sides launched a six-year battle over Qianzhong, an important salt production area of ​​Chu. In the 20th year of King Xiang of Chu, the Qin people suddenly changed their attack on the Chu salt fields and instead attacked Yiling (now Yichang), cutting off the Chu people's salt transportation channel. The Chu army was defeated without a fight. Qin State took over all the salt fields of Chu as it wished. This marathon battle for the salt fields lasted for more than 90 years.

▲The leader of the Ba people, Linjun, used a trick to shoot and kill the salt god, seized the salt land, and built Yicheng. His love story with the goddess of salt water is widely circulated. Picture/Sourced from the Internet

Although the American Civil War was not caused by salt, its outcome was changed by salt.

Before the Civil War, the United States was a major salt consumer. The per capita salt consumption was much higher than that of Europeans. The local salt fields were mainly concentrated in the north, so the salt used in the South mainly relied on imports and the north. Four days after the outbreak of the war on April 12, 1861, Lincoln ordered a blockade of all southern ports. As a result of the blockade, there was a serious shortage of salt in the South.

Moreover, the Union Army seized salt fields wherever it went. An officer of the Confederate Army Operations Department blamed Confederate President Jefferson Davis in his diary: "In the eyes of those distant politicians, the President seems to be a good nation-builder, but he does not seem to be a good salt-maker for the country." Soon, a salt shortage crisis broke out in the South, and a small bag of salt became a fashionable and valuable gift.

He who controls the salt controls the world. The Union Army effectively controlled and destroyed the salt fields on which the Southern Confederacy depended for its survival, which accelerated the course of the war and affected its outcome. This was the famous Salt War of the American Civil War.

▲During the American Civil War, the federal army effectively controlled and destroyed the salt fields on which the Confederacy depended for survival. Image/Source: Internet

Fighting for salt, many wars in history have mixed the taste of brine and blood. Mark Kurlansky lamented in his book "A History of Salt": "It seems very stupid to fight for salt now, but people in the future may have the same reaction when they see us fighting for oil today." In his view, salt in ancient times has the same status as oil today, and both are the highest strategic interests of a country.

After seeing the ancients fighting for salt, it is not difficult to understand why the Middle East is in constant war and chaos today. Iraq, Iran, Libya, Syria... The so-called "liberation wars" launched by Western powers are nothing more than blatant oil robbery and resource plundering under the banner of "freedom and democracy."

Many of the wars we see today are no different from the many wars in history that were caused by salt. Nature gave this land salt and oil, but it also planted the seeds of disaster.

References: Li Zhongdong, Xing Lida, Zou Rong, "Legend of Salt Well, Hometown of Dinosaurs", Planet Map Press, 2014;

▲In 2003, the United States unilaterally launched a war against Iraq on the grounds that Iraq was hiding weapons of mass destruction. Its purpose included competing for control of oil in the Middle East, which was no different from many wars in history caused by salt. Picture/Sourced from the Internet

Source: Xiake Geography