A Study on Social-Cultural Faith Interaction in South China
——Take Yue Cheng Long Mu Ancestral Temple
ABSTRACT
In China, there is a long historical origin and deep social foundation about folk faith. However, folk faith has been considered as ignorant and backward feudalistic superstition in modern society and has been criticized and even forbidden for a long time. Since 1980s, folk faith has had the upsurge of revival, which demonstrates its dogged vitality and great adaptability. Based on scholars' analysis, combined with relevant theories of folklore, religion and folk faith’s own characteristic, the writer holds the view that folk faith is a typical religious culture, and such faith is a kind of ideological and behavior ceremony by which people demonstrate their believe in gods and as a result, satisfy their wills.
Taking Long Mu faith in Yue Cheng, Guang Dong as the research objective, this thesis tries to demonstrate the causes for believes’ generation and maintenance by analyzing the legend, temple, and ceremony; furthermore, the writer investigates the current situation of present folk faith, and discusses the meanings of Long Mu faith in people's life and what attitude we should hold toward it and arrives at the following reviews: firstly, the Long Mu worship and the sacrificial offering deportment plays an important role of preserving the historical trace of Long Mu faith; secondly, the worship reflects that utilitarian and practicability of folk faith, which is an important avenue to develop the socialist economy in the cultural reconstruction and satisfy the spiritual needs of people; thirdly, the holly places of worship, like temples, are seen as symbols of collective memory of Xi River Area’s people, which are boosting a sense of national identity, protecting our core values and supporting the arts etc. in the development of sacrificial ceremonies. The writer believes that it has positive meanings for this research to ensure cultural diversities, social stability and the development of building a harmonious society.
Key words：Yue Cheng Long Mu Interaction Service Capacity Change
关于岭南地区文化信仰与社会之间构成良性互动的研究
——以广东悦城龙母祖庙为个案分析
摘 要
民间传统信仰在我国有着悠久的历史渊源和深厚的社会基础。现代社会中的民间信仰一直被视为愚昧落后的封建迷信而遭到批判，并一度被禁止。20世纪80年代以来，民间信仰出现复兴的热潮，显示出其顽强的生命力和极大的适应性。通过考察前人的分析，结合民俗学、宗教学的相关理论，以及民间信仰自身的一些特点，本文认为民间信仰是民众自发产生形成的一套神灵信仰观念和相应的实践仪式，以满足个体功利性愿望为目的的准宗教信仰文化。
本文以广东悦城的龙母文化信仰为研究对象，试图通过传说、庙宇及仪式的分析，探讨信仰生成和维系的原因，进而对作为一种“草根文化”的龙母信仰在民众现实生活中的意义以及应如何正确地对待龙母信仰做一些粗浅的探讨，并得出以下结论：首先，岭南人民对龙母的崇拜和祭祀，延续了民众对龙母信仰的历史记忆；其次，龙母崇拜体现了民间信仰的功利性和实用性特点，不但满足了民众寻求幸福生活的精神诉求，而且成为当地人民进行文化再建构的依托，以此为当地经济发展寻求出路。再次，庙宇等神圣空间成为当地西江流域集体记忆的象征符号，在不断展演的祭祀仪式中，当地民众对本民族的文化认同感得到了塑造和强化。现阶段，如何正确地认识龙母信仰，关注它的演变动向，用正确的态度对待和引导它，对确保文化的多样性，维护社会稳定，推动社会和谐发展都有着积极的现实意义。
关键词：悦城 龙母 互动 服务功能 变迁
CONTENTS
Abstract(In English)………………………………………………I
Abstract(In Chinese)……………………………………………II
General Introduction of Long Mu Faith in South China…………………………………………………………１
Long Mu Image and Its Legend……………………………１
History and Current Status of Long Mu Faith——Take Yue Cheng Long Mu Ancestral Temple…………………………3
Community Meritorious Service Capacity of Long Mu Faith……………………………………………………………6
Forms of Long Mu Faith Expression…………………………6
Community Meritorious Service Capacity of Long Mu Faith……………………………………………………………7
Social-Cultural Faith Interaction in South China…………12
Influence of Social Modernization to Long Mu Faith……12
Significance of Social-Cultural Faith Interaction in South China…………………………………………………………14
Conclusion……………………………………………………17
Bibliography……………………………………………………19
Acknowledgements………………………………………………20
