2.3.2. Divination
It was practiced in China from about 1700 BC. It was intended to discover the answers of occult powers to simple questions that concerned matters of
everyday life or the immediate outcome of a proposed action. For example; the changes of a good harvest, the choices of times for religious services, and the
success in the hunt of battle. It was felt that only by taking such precautions could it be ensured that the
outcome of the proposed plan would be successful. There are three means in pronouncing the results of divination Hook 289-290:
a. Scapulimancy It was the earliest method of divination. It was applied by heating the
shoulder bones scapulae of animals or the shells plastra of turtles to induce random cracks in the material. The diviner could determine the outcome of a
proposed plan of action. This method was applied in the Sang dynasty and used to ascertain their
future or answer their practical problems. The record of each act of divination was inscribed on the bone and shells. They chose turtles; of regarding turtles were the
longest-lived animal represented the eternal truths. Divination by turtle shell was practiced at least until the beginning of the 1
st
century AD. b. Yijing The Book of Changes
It was a book that guided the seer to determine the given answer intuitively. The book contained a wholly symbolical scheme of universal
philosophy that linked intuitive divination with China’s intellectual development. 21
The text provided a title for each of the 64 figures which guided to its character and situations occur in the universe and repeat in cyclical fashion.
Divination with Yijing moved from an attempt to answer a specific problem to a means of ascertaining in which the 64 situations the inquirer chanced to be placed.
The enlarged The Book of Change reached its present form at about the start of first century AD. It was invoked both by diviners who intuitively sought
clarification to problems from its highly esoteric text and by scientist, who saw in it a universal scheme of being means in comprehending the mysteries of creation
Hook 290. c. Geomancy
Geomancy is known as Fengshui. It is a means of divination intended to find the most suitable sites establishing a city, house and tomb. The Chinese have
regarded the earth as a living organism, comparable with other organisms such as the human body.
The human body incorporates channels along which its life blood pulsates. Therefore, it is thought that the earth included similar channels. It is described as
“the veins of the earth or “the veins of the dragon”. The parts of earth that are favorably sited lie at points where such channels converge, bringing with them
natural blessings that enrich a living body. The benefits of channels are described as qi, natural energies and the channels along which they pass are invariably
winding. Forces of an evil nature sha make a direct approach to a site along a straight, man-made line such as a ditch or roadway.
22 PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
Geomancy has depended on combining intuition with sophisticated intellectual theories. The intellectual elements spring from the belief that man’s
fortune depends on accommodating himself to his natural surroundings and to the eternal rhythms that regulate the movements of heaven, earth and man. In
assessing the value or quality of a site, a geomancer uses a highly intricate compass, which shows how an individual’s circumstances for example, date and
time of birth coincide with such relationships and their influences. Since the 11
th
century, geomancers have used a compass fitted with a magnetic needle, but the antecedents of these instruments without such a device
date from 2
nd
century BC. By applying the geomancy, the building may be sited to suit the major rhythms of earth and heaven Hook 290-291.
2.1.3. Ancestor Worship
Reciprocity between living and dead is the key to this system of beliefs which draws together many elements of cosmology and divination. For example:
the flow of good “winter and water” fengshui influences through the bones of the ancestor is thought to bring prosperity to his descendants. The livings have the
awesome responsibility of sustaining the spirits of the ancestors and protecting their graves. As long as the reciprocal relationships is maintained both the living
and dead benefited. However, if the descendants neglected the spirit of an ancestor by falling
to make regular offerings at his grave, the ancestor would be cut adrift in the other-world and seek nourishment elsewhere. Ancestor abandons in this way
23 PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
become ‘hungry ghost’, a general term for spirit of dead people who did not have any reciprocal relationship with the living.
There are two sides to Chinese ancestor worship; the domestic cult and the lineage cult. The domestic side known as ‘family cult’ is concerned with
immediate ancestors who had died in the past five or six generations. The names of these people are written on a large paper sheet which is kept on the family altar.
The list of names is the centre of all ritual activity in the family. On the other hand, the lineage cult focuses on a group of generalized ancestors, most of whom
are no longer included on the domestic altars. In south China it consists of 40 generations. Ancestral hall are often magnificent buildings, ideally with three
large chambers and elaborate decorations. These ancestral halls are the most visible symbol of lineage wealth and prestige.
For the majority of people throughout China, ancestor worship is restricted to domestic cult. After few generations, most Chinese have a little reason to be
concerned with predecessors who had left only their memory Hook 291-194.
2.4. Chinese-American in United States
The United States of America is a multicultural country with many ethnic groups and races. Most of the citizens in the country are immigrants. The come
from many different countries. Although they come from different countries, races and ethnics, they can live together. People come to America have a main purpose
to get better living in the country. 24
Chinese is one of the ethnics that live in America. Many Chinese and their generations of them have stayed for centuries in America. According to America
census, some 2.4 million Chinese-Americans live in America. Chinese immigrants in America began with the arrival of thousands of Chinese miners in California
following the discovery of gold in 1848. Many Chinese-Americans lived in the ethnic community known as
Chinatown. Some business and traditions can be found in that place. The largest Chinatowns were in San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles, and Honolulu.
Chinese- Americas have contributed to America culture in many different aspects. Chinese martial arts, such as Gongfu and Taijiquan have become familiar
to many Americans. Acupunture, the Chinese healing arts, is increasingly gaining acceptance by mainstream Western medicine. Many Chinese-Americans are
Christians, but they still preserve their beliefs as traditions. They also celebrate the Chinese New Year Celebration in many cities with the roar of blazing firecrakers,
lion dance, and traditional music Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia 2004.
2.5. Theoretical Framework
Theories are the basis for analyzing the novel. Based on the theories that have been explained in preceding section, the researcher would like to draw up the
application of the theories in this theoretical framework. Basically, there are two research questions will be discussed in this study
with different approach for each question. Since the first research question related to sociocultural-historical aspect, the approach which are used to analyze the
question is the Sociocultural-Historical Approach. On the other hand, since the 25
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