To Become a God: Cosmology, Sacrifice, and Self-Divinization in Early China

To Become a God examines self-divinization practices and religious cosmology in early China, focusing on the late Warring States and early Han periods. Through analysis of texts, artifacts, and ritual practices, Michael Puett reconstructs how humans attempted to transform themselves into divine beings. The book explores sacrifice, spirit mediums, and ancestor worship as key elements in Chinese religious life and their connection to self-divinization. Puett draws on archaeological evidence and classical texts to demonstrate how early Chinese practitioners conceived of transcendence and divinity. The work centers on tensions between competing religious frameworks and philosophies in early China, particularly regarding the relationship between humans and gods. The author traces how different schools of thought approached questions of human potential for godhood. This scholarship offers insights into perennial questions about human-divine boundaries and religious authority in Chinese civilization. The findings challenge common assumptions about early Chinese religion while illuminating broader patterns in how cultures conceptualize divinity and human transformation.

Readers value this academic work for its analysis of self-divinization practices in early China and clear explanations of complex religious concepts. Multiple reviewers note Puett's skillful handling of ancient Chinese texts and his ability to make scholarly material accessible. Positives mentioned: - Detailed examination of sacrificial practices - Thorough research and citations - Clear writing style for an academic text Common criticisms: - Dense academic language requires repeated reading - High price point limits accessibility - Some sections become repetitive Specific feedback from reviews: "Explains difficult concepts without oversimplifying" - Goodreads reviewer "Heavy on theory, light on practical applications" - Amazon reviewer Ratings: Goodreads: 4.2/5 (12 ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (6 ratings) Google Books: Not enough ratings Note: Limited online reviews available due to the book's academic nature and specialized topic.

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🔮 Ancient Chinese texts describe elaborate rituals where rulers would journey through the cosmos by moving through a series of chambers representing different celestial realms. 🌟 Michael Puett's courses at Harvard are consistently among the most popular, with his class "Classical Chinese Ethical and Political Theory" regularly attracting over 700 students. ⚡ The concept of self-divinization in early China wasn't about becoming immortal, but rather about gaining the ability to move between human and divine realms at will. 🏺 Early Chinese sacrificial rituals often involved bronze vessels specifically designed to create connections between the human and divine worlds through the steam of cooking food. 🐉 The book challenges the common Western assumption that Chinese thought was primarily focused on this-worldly concerns, revealing sophisticated theories about divine realms and human-divine transformation.