英文摘要 |
Per oral history data collected from the field, the history of local ritual traditions in China can normally be traced to the late Qing dynasty. This is the extent of time that can be reliably orally recounted, a duration covering six to seven generations. Most if not all of the written sources on ritual traditions available in the field were reproduced after the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976). This is a limitation to the study of the history of local ritual traditions. The Azhali ritual tradition may be an exception. Because of its close connection with the court of Nanzhao (738-902) and Dali (937- 1094, 1096-1254), several manuscripts and epigraphs that enable the tracing of the tradition back to the Tang and Song periods have been identified. Contemporary Azhali practices are ritual traditions serving the local society. The rituals of the Azhali tradition are largely understudied. This essay contributes to the study of Azhali ritual tradition through the use of fieldwork data. |