中國古代的龜祭文化

TURTLE SACRIFICE IN ANCIENT CHINA

本刊第十六期何子星先生發表龜的文化地位，文中第五節龜與宗教迷信之關係第三項臺灣民間信仰之習俗有云：臺灣歲時喜慶，常以紅麴和米粉或麵製成紅龜，以為吉兆。……紅龜，是禮品，也是祭品。用之於喜慶方面，則為禮品；用之於祀神方面，則為祭品。台灣省人做壽，年屆花甲，親友送禮，得送紅龜六十二個；年到古稀，得送紅龜七十二個，以示依歲數而增壽的祝意。臺灣民間普通祀神用三牲或五牲和紅龜，但亦有完全用大小紅龜者，龜之重者多至五、六百臺斤，甚有重至千斤以上者，此一龜祭之俗，乃引起作者的研究興趣。作者曾在中國古代海洋文化與亞洲地中海一文中說：中國文化是多元的，文化的形成是累積的，最下或最古的基層文化，可說是發生和成長於亞洲地中海沿岸的海洋文化。這一龜祭文化亦是起源於亞洲地中海東岸華東地區的，它與梟祭和犬祭都是屬於海洋文化的。

In the folklore of Taiwan, cakes, made of rice or flour, in the shape of a turtle, painted red, (commonly known as the 'Hung Kuei Kuo' 紅龜粿 red-turtle cake) are usually used in celebration of the festivals in the year or as a gift for a birthday or other auspicious occasions. Such cakes are also used as a sacrifice to gods or deities. This custom of turtle sacrifice was 'originally brought to Taiwan by the early immigrants from the Fukien and Kwangtung Provinces. Records indicating the existence of this turtle sacrifice are found in Chinese paeleographical and historical works. Besides, certain features of this culture have survived in some of the Pacific islands up to the present time.