The Research on the Faith in Cheng Hwang Yeh in Kinmen

• Main Authors: Tian-How Yang, 楊天厚
• Other Authors: Shean-Tzong Gong
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2003
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/44966635908792567278

碩士 === 國立中山大學 === 中國語文學系研究所 === 91 === This research is written by a native kinmenese who does a long period of field research and tries not only to explain interaction between this traditional forklore faith and life, but also to give it the meaning through ceremonious temple fairs and festivities. Kinmen County is an island county composed by Kinmen, little Kinmen and other small islands around them. The total area of Kinmen is 150,456 square kilometers. There are five administrative areas in Kinmen. They are Kincheng Town, Kinning Hsiang, Kinhu Town, Kinsha town and Liehyu Hsiang（Little Kinmen）. There are there Cheng Hwang temples in Kinmen. They are “ Taishan Temple” in Tianpu village in Kinsha town, “ Old Land Cheng Hwang Temple” in Kinmencheng in Kincheng town, and “ Wudau Cheng Hwang Temple” on the street of Houpu in Kincheng town. Of them, “Wudau Cheng Hwang Temple” is the youngest but the biggest one. This research tries to deeply explore the faith in Cheng Hwang in Kinmen and to give a new definition to traditional faith. “ Kinmen County Book” says that the first habitants settled in Kinmen during Western Jin. But other folklore cognomen books reveal that the organized development began during Southern Song. In 1387, Deshing Chou, a duke of Ming Dynasty, established “ a city of thousands of houses” in Kinmencheng in Kincheng town, and at the same time, he also built “Old Land Cheng Hwang Temple” in it. That caused Kinmencheng suddenly to become the economic center and important faith town in kinmen, and wrote a new leaf in Kinmen history. In 1392, Ming Dynasty built five military spots for coast safety. The five military spots were located in Tianpu village in Kinsha town, Fengshang village and Chengkun village in Kinhu town, and Liehyu Hsiang. Ming Dynasty built “ Taishan Temple” in Tianpu military spot. It is the second big temple in Kinmen. On lunar August twelfth, 1680, Lung Chen, a general of Qing Dynasty, transferred administrative center to Houpu. The fire of “Old Land Cheng Hwang Temple” was given to Houpu at the beginning of this year , and then “ Wudau Cheng Hwang Temple” was built here；therefore, people in Kincheng town take this day, lunar August twelfth, for the birthday of Cheng Hwang, and celebrated ceremoniously. Then it became a folklore festival. And all of the activities of this day gradually become the most special Cheng Hwang temple fair in Kinmen. This book has six chapters. Chapter one is an introduction to Cheng Hwang. The former part of chapter two discusses about the origins of Cheng Hwang and the different processes of its godhood. The latter part of chapter two contains the faith in Cheng Hwang in Kinmen. Chapter three is about the formation of belief in Cheng Hwang in Kinmen. Chapter four discusses this faith and associated activities. Chapter five talks about the belief in Cheng Hwang and folklore life in Kinmen. Chapter six sums up all the important points of the above five chapters.