King Wu Yi of Shang made a puppet he called "Heavenly God," played dice against it, and had a stand-in lose so he could humiliate it. He then filled a leather bag with blood and shot it, calling it "shooting Heaven." He later died during a hunt, struck by lightning.
Account
King Wu Yi of Shang made a puppet he called "Heavenly God," played dice against it with a stand-in opponent, and humiliated the "god" whenever it lost. He then hung up a leather bag filled with blood, shot it with arrows, and called it "shooting Heaven." He later died during a hunt between the Yellow and Wei Rivers, struck down by lightning.
Debunked
⚠️ Political act: Objectively, this was an accidental death during a thunderstorm hunt on open plains; court historians recast it as "divine punishment." Wu Yi's "shooting Heaven" was in fact a political move to weaken priestly power and strengthen royal authority.
Sources
- Records of the Grand Historian, "Basic Annals of Yin"