Diversified Sacredness: Types, Ideas and Values of Tree Worship

Tree worship is an important type of nature worship and a window to understand the relationship between man and nature. The tree worship can be divided into tree divinity worship, magic tree worship and community tree worship. The tree divinity worship is the personalized worship of trees, which have emotions, consciousness or soul; the magic tree worship is the worship of the natural force contained in trees, which have shocking vitality or various magical functions; the community tree worship is the worship of the symbol of community, and the tree is the sacred symbol of a clan or community. There are different concepts behind the various types of tree worship: tree divinity worship, magic tree worship and community tree worship correspond respectively to pantheism and polytheism, natural force worship and community worship. In the course of historical changes, the three concepts are intertwined and integrated, forming a rich culture of tree worship and nature worship.