Chang Kuang-chih says that before undertaking any course of action, the Shang kings would always ask the advice of their ancestors, or at least would use the purported instructions of their ancestors as a pretext for their actions.
張光直說，商王在行動前常需舉行占卜請示祖先，或至少要藉著祖先的意旨作為他行動的口實。