英文摘要 |
Based on the data of the developments of temples and the performances of religious activities in a changing village of northern Taiwan, this article attempted to uncover the characteristics of the Taiwanese folk religion and its adaptation to modern life. Consequently, three characteristics were indicated in the process of analysis:1) the personalization of the deities;2) the nature that emphasized on the deities' divine power;and 3) the situation-orientation. The folk religion in Taiwan structures as a polytheistic system resulted from the interweaving operations of these three characteristics. As a projective system, it reflects the basic characteristic of the Chinese society and people. It is rigid in organization, but flexible in activities. Tu-ti-kong (Land God), although located at the lowest level in the indigenous supernatural hierarchy, might be highlighted by all of the villagers as the common god. The changes of political or economic situations not only can lead the religious ceremonies to be delayed or anteceded, but also can make, the natives withdraw from the original religious sphere, which is an object of the group identity, and/or join another one. Moreover, the religious activities might be stopped completely and submissively while the pressures are too strong. After the pressures ended, it flourished again in very short period. Making use of these reaction patterns, the Taiwanese folk religion can well adapt itself to drastic sociocultural changes, and continue to operate its sociopsychological functions. |