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
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
