Spirit writing groups along the Jianjiang River in Western Guangdong : focusing on their beliefs and liturgies

IR Web Site

Bibliographic Information

Other Title
  • 粤西鑑江流域の経堂― 信仰と儀礼を中心に
  • エツニシカンコウリュウイキ ノ キョウドウ : シンコウ ト ギレイ オ チュウシン ニ

Search this article

Description

This paper intends to explore the rise of the spirit-writing groups along the Jianjiang River in western Guangdong, employing both historical materials and anthropological data obtained from my field research. In this region, a number of spirit-writing halls, called“ jingtang” (literally, “scripture hall”) were established by local literati and merchants since the end of the 19th century. 　The jingtangs were established on the basis of the religious and charitable culture rooted in the local community. In addition hereto, they were also directly influenced by the religious movement that emerged in southwestern China in the second half of the nineteenth century. This movement preached salvation from the apocalypse through the teachings spirit written by Lord Guan and other savior deities. 　First, I explored the historical transformations and current conditions of several spiritwriting halls from the early twentieth century up until the present, focusing on their beliefs and liturgies. Then, I summarized the main points comparing the two case studies in terms of religiosity, organization, social class, and gender. The first case study focuses on the scripture halls in northern Gaozhou, which served as the religious communities centered on spirit-writing, the worship of Lord Guan, and the liturgy espousing Confucianism, mainly consisting of male followers. The other is the successors of the Palace of the Three Saints in Wuchuan, centered on the worship of the Jade Princess, mainly attracting female devotees. Finally, I discussed how gender and shamanism are key elements in understanding the development of the local spirit writing movement in modern China.

Journal

Related Projects

See more

Details 詳細情報について

Report a problem

Back to top