Witchcraft

===Confucianism===
{{main|Chinese shamanism}}
During the reign of [[Emperor Wu of Han]] (141 BCE to 87 BCE) in the [[Western Han Dynasty]] of China, there were instances where the imperial court took measures to suppress certain religious or spiritual practices, including those associated with [[shamanism]]. Emperor Wu was known for his strong support of [[Confucianism]], which was the dominant ideology of the Han Dynasty, and he promoted policies that aimed to consolidate central authority and unify the cultural and social landscape of the empire.<ref name=Cai>{{cite book |last=Cai |first=L. |year=2014 |title=Witchcraft and the Rise of the First Confucian Empire |publisher=State University of New York Press |isbn=978-1438448497}}</ref>

One notable event related to the suppression of shamanism occurred in 91 BCE, when Emperor Wu issued an edict that banned a range of "heterodox" practices, including shamanistic rituals and divination, in favor of Confucianism. The primary target of these measures was the [[Wuism]] or Wu (巫) tradition, which involved the worship of spirits and the use of shamanic practices to communicate with them. Wuism was considered by the Confucian elite to be superstitious witchcraft and at odds with Confucian principles.{{r|Cai|page=1}}

Emperor Wu's suppression of shamanism was part of a larger effort to centralize power, promote Confucian ethics, and standardize cultural practices. While the ban on shamanistic practices did impact certain communities and religious groups, these measures were not universally applied across the vast territory of the empire. Local variations and practices persisted in some regions despite imperial edicts.{{r|Cai}}

The historical record from that time is limited, and our understanding of these events can be influenced by the perspectives of the Confucian scholars and officials who documented them. As a result, there might be some variations in the interpretation of the exact nature and extent of the expulsion of shamans and other religious practitioners during Emperor Wu's reign.{{r|Cai}}