Introduction
Animal resources are essential for human societies, which especially applies well to ancient societies where animals fulfill various needs such as food, clothing, transportation, labor, and religious practices (Yuan,2010). Among these uses, animal sacrifice held a prominent position as one of the primary methods of animal resources utilization (Lv and Gong, 2016). Zooarchaeological studies have revealed that the utilization of animals as sacrificial offerings became a traditional practice during the Neolithic period. During the Shang and Zhou periods, animal sacrifice was more prevalent (Yuan, 2007). From the Qin and Han Dynasties onwards, emperors and other members of the noble class would regularly organize grand sacrificial ceremonies, and these ceremonies involved the sacrifice of a significant number of animals (Yan, 2011). As written in historical records, not only the Han Chinese ethnic group but
also ancient Chinese ethnic minorities practiced animal sacrifice in their rituals (Xu and Sun, 2022). In ancient societies, animals used for sacrifices encompassed not only domesticated mammals such as cattle, dogs,pigs, and sheep but also wild mammals like deer and tigers. Birds, fish,and shellfish were used in sacrificial rituals as well (Wang, 2014).The Northern Wei Dynasty (386–534 CE), founded by the Xianbei ethnic group, had a rich array of ritual activities, ranging from the worship of heaven and earth to the reverence of ancestors and other deities (Zhao, 2020). As a regime established by ethnic minorities, the
sacrificial rituals of the Northern Wei Dynasty reflect their own distinctive ethnic characteristics. What accompanied their geological fusion with the Han Chinese group was cultural assimilation. This borrowing and adaptation of Han culture contributed to their even more distinct and characteristic sacrificial practices (Liu and Zhao, 2018). As a nomadic tribe, the Tuoba Xianbei loved and worshiped wild animals.For example, they named official positions after animals such as dragons and birds, and set up royal gardens to raise wild animals (such as tigers,deer, etc.) for entertainment (Yang, 2007). In addition, Xianbei ethnic group made use of animal resources, a typical example of which is animal sacrifices. Throughout the various developmental stages of the Northern Wei Dynasty, whether it was the primitive stage and the early Shengle era (258–398 CE) or the Pingcheng era (398–494 CE) and the subsequent Hanization reforms under Emperor Xiaowen’s rein, sacrificial animals were always a crucial part of these rituals (Xu, 2007; Liu,2018). Sacrifices to Heaven was a significant ceremonial practice for emperors of the Northern Wei Dynasty, and the offering of animals as sacrifices was involved as well (Yang, 2002). It is evident that the
practice of using animals for sacrificial offerings was widespread during the Northern Wei Dynasty, therefore studying the practice of animal sacrifice during that period is of great significance.
