| Summary: | 碩士 === 玄奘大學 === 宗教學系碩士在職專班 === 101 === Matzu belief started as an immigrant religion, which later took root and flourished in Taiwan. The subject of this thesis is the Yungchen Temple in Tienliao Borough, Hekang, Toufen Township, Miaoli County. Through field study, site visit and observation of religious activities, this research aims to understand the interaction between communities by means of specific religious rites and to learn the social-cultural significance of the integration and division of Hoklo and Hakka people.
The result of the field study interviews shows that religious activities in the Yungchen Temple have aggregated the people. Despite the little interaction between Hoklo and Hakka people, the two groups are connected through the Matzu procession activities.
The reason why Yong Zhen temple in Toufen township is so prestigious is that it has the meaning of social culture locally. The meaning of social culture reflected from the Matsu belief group has perspective on how the different ethnic groups merged together. There are some same characteristics among areas of Taiwan, Fujian and Guangdong, but the differences among these areas influenced eacher other and emerged over time. This may result in the disappearence or change of cultural characteristics from Ch'ing dynasty immigrant society. The temple and folk belief groups still exist and evolve today's folk belief with cultural particularity locally. Yong Zhen temple holds the idea of whatever you take from the society; use them for the society. In spite of management, it attends activities for public welfare and serves the community by religious belief.
There are six chapters in this thesis. Chapter One states the research motivation and literature review; Chapter Two discusses the religious belief of Toufen Township and its pioneering process as well as social structure; Chapter Three investigates the history, motivation for building and course of development of the Yungchen Temple in Toufen. And it also probes the interactions between the Temple and people; Chapter Four illustrates the beliefs and gods in the Yungchen Temple; Chapter Five investigates the organization and operations of the management committee and the religious rites and cultural activities held by the committee; Chapter Six, we make the conclusion for the thesis.
With a long history of over 150 years, the Yungchen Temple has gone through many difficulties and challenges. After several years of reformation, the Temple still stands and remains a sacred site for numerous worshippers.
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