A Study of Folk Beliefs in Kangshan Area —Focusing on Village Temples

• Main Authors: Hui-qing Wu, 吳惠卿
• Other Authors: none
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2013
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/px5daz

碩士 === 國立臺南大學 === 台灣文化研究所碩士班 === 101 === Focusing on the village temples in Kangshan area, this thesis explores the factors influencing a village’s decision of choosing a deity to worship in terms of temple establishment time, origin of worship ritual, and the types of deities. In ancient times, Pingpu Tribes lived in and developed Kangshan. During the Kingdom of Tungning, the Han Chinese immigrants introduced many deities originally worshiped in Fuchien and Guangdong Province into the area. As the immigrants developed lands using a military settlement farming system (tuntien), the developed areas became religious bases. The deities worshiped in village temples in Kangshan are mainly Mazu, Five Loyal Lords, Zushi of Qingshui, Sage Emperor Guan, Supreme Emperor of the Dark Heavens, Lords of the Three Mountains, Revered King of Protecting Ceremony and so on. Most of these deities were introduced by the ancient immigrants into this area and associated with the factors of village’s historical development. Only a small number of deities came from the nearby famous temples and these deities were mainly Mazu and Five Loyal Lords. 12 registered temples, or 26% of all the temples in Kangshan, were built in the Qing Dynasty, and closely associated with the early development of villages in the area. Moreover, the village temples organizing sacrifice offering rituals and pilgrimages mainly worship Mazu, Five Loyal Lords, Zushi of Qingshui, and Supreme Emperor of the Dark Heavens. Such phenomenon explains that temples follow other temples’ actions and the fact that the previously mentioned four deities are the heart of folk beliefs in Kangshan. The sacrifice offering rituals organized by village temples and the composition of believers’ groups are the focal point of the thesis’s analysis. The one-of-a-kind rituals originating from both the unique historical background of Kangshan’s development and the fact that lands in the area were transformed for military use are even worthy of more investigation and recording. Furthermore, since the Qing Dynasty, streets in Kangshan have often been inundated by the frequently flooding Akungtien River. During the typhoon season, some low-lying villages in the area are flooded with water reaching the knee and paralyzing the traffic, causing severe damages to the people’s well being and property. As a result, some village temples organize Shui huo chi an ching chiao (a sacrifice offering ritual for both releasing souls of people dying from water- or fire-related accidents from purgatory, and praying or showing gratitude for the deity’s blessing and protection) from time to time, which is also a religious feature of Kangshan. The folk beliefs associated with Kangshan residents are individual religious behaviors such as An tai sui (when one’s sign of the Chinese zodiac is opposite to Taisui, a deity of misfortune, he/she better undertake An tai sui to turn peril into safety), light Kuang ming teng (lighting a lamp to illuminate the soul to pray for success in everything), Li tou fa hui (a ritual for praying for peace, safety and longevity), Chi shih wen shih (seeking advice from deities), pass Ping an qiao (a ritual of passing the bridge which brings peace and safety) and Chi kuei (providing turtle-shaped cakes as offerings in rituals). By organizing the information regarding the witchcraft ritual services offered by 29 village temples in Kangshan, this thesis concludes the unique operation of every village temple, and goes one step further to sum up the features of folk beliefs in Kangshan.