| 英文摘要 |
Taiwan’s folk religion of Goddess Matsu belief originated in Fujian, China, and has become prosperous throughout Taiwan’s history. It is believed to protect the safety of fishermen, land reclamation and the establishment of homeland. From maritime rescue to immigration, Taiwan’s Matsu is no longer a mere ""Poseidon"", but a response to the Taiwan people’s needs of resettlement that combines ""soil and water"" with immigrants. It signifies a cultural pattern of ""deep relationships"" with the land. On the basis of the theoretical concepts of ""from the native’s point of view"" and ""thick description"" put forth by cultural anthropologist Clifford Geertz (1926-2006), this paper explores Goddess Matsu’s ""deep relationships"" with the land, the cognition of the changing states of ""being"" and the evolution of cultural tradition, thereby demonstrating that Taiwan’s folk religion possesses a solid and profound cultural tradition and a rich humanistic dimension. It also reveals a ""vision of the gods"" and the traditional knowledge of the most comprehensive cosmic order that integrates heaven, earth, humans and spirits. Through ""deep description"" from a humanistic perspective and a thorough understanding of the native religious culture, this paper hopes to illumine a new horizon of cultural studies in Taiwan. |
