都市化與民間信仰實踐主體的變貌－－以1990年代雲林縣馬鳴山鎮安宮為例

Urbanization and Change in Folk Religion: For the Zen-An Shrine, YunLin County in the 90s

本文基於台灣雲林縣馬鳴山鎮安宮田野調查的資料，針對1990年代民間信仰的變貌，持續關注並考察在台灣都市化中信仰主體的連續與非連續性。民間信仰具有強烈的現世利益傾向，其定義是由地域社會所生根的宗教。若離開了地域社會這個經過長期的經歷和反復傳承的累積就難以成立。所考察之台灣中西部祭祀「五年王爺」的「鎮安宮」於1970年代以後，信徒分布超過了以往的地域社會，急速擴大的可能因素。鎮安宮在1960年代產生了衰落現象，加上交通不便，人口急遽減少，不過筆者調查的1990年代，廟宇卻因外來的香客而香火鼎盛。此與雲林縣、嘉義縣的平原農村地帶人口大量向都市移動有關，這些原本和鎮安宮沒有地緣關係的人，為什麼需要「五年王爺」的信仰，變成鎮安宮的信徒呢？屬於地域民間信仰焦點的鎮安宮，在台灣工業化和都市化當中，使信徒從遠處聚集而來的理由和過程為何？是本文討論的重點。文中透過對「鎮安宮五年王爺」的幾位信徒，進行口訪，記述其各自的信仰過程與經驗。從這些事例中，觀察到沒有地線關係，也沒有歷史淵源的經驗傳承的遠地信徒，決定信仰的是他們和「王爺」之間的交流。不管男女信徒，其共通處，即是相信因為「五年王爺」的關係，所以生活安寧，事業發展，身體健康。不過也認為有時為了要讓善男信女與神明結緣，或是加深緣份，而故意使其身體不適，降臨一些災難予以考驗。若對許願未照實履行，神明亦給予嚴厲處分。信徒歸納這些經驗建構一連串的故事，然後引導信徒更加虔誠的信仰神明。如此複雜的過程，使得信徒和「五年王爺」的關係趨於穩固。

Based on a series of field studies on the Zen-An shrine, Yunlin county in the 90s, the impact of urbanization on the local folk religion in Taiwan were investigated and discussed. Worshipping ”5 year Wang-Yeh,” the believers of Zen-An shrine were extended after 70s and dramatically increased after 90s, but the local population of Yunlin county were actually decreased since 60s. This is partially due to the industrialization and urbanization starting from 60s. The population was shifted from agricultural counties such as Chiayi and Yunlin to urban areas, which brought back more believers especially in 90s. To reveal the reason for the population feedback of its believers, several believers were visited for their experience and consideration. Some of them even have no regional relationship with the shrine. They generally believe that it is the ”5 year Wang-Yeh” who made them live peacefully, wealthily and healthily and there must be some special and delicate relation, the karma, exited between them. Naturally, the regional relationship is no more important for them.