Journal of East China Normal University (Philosoph ›› 2017, Vol. 49 ›› Issue (3): 94-101.doi: 10.16382/j.cnki.1000-5579.2017.03.011

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The Local Discourse of the Three-god Myth in Contemporary Shanghai and Its Evolution: A Case Study of Village A in the Outskirts of Shanghai

LEI Wei-ping   

  • Online:2017-05-15 Published:2017-05-20

Abstract: Contemporary faith custom is the product of the combination of folk myth and folk faith. The transformation from female three-god myth to Yao-Shun-Yu three-god myth in Village A in Shanghai shows that local discourse was against at the beginning but finally in compliance with national discourse. The traditional female three-god narrative shows people's admiration for chivalrousness in order to achieve self-protection. From 1960s to the early 21st century, local people insisted the traditional female three-god myth by propagating "witchcraft stories". Since 2008, local people have started to accept myths in which the heroes have royal backgrounds corresponding to official faiths, so that the worship for three gods of Yao, Shun and Yu and the faith in three female gods have coexisted. The re-construction of the Three-god Temple, together with the ritual performance of intangible cultural heritage, has been utilized to strengthen people's memory of the three gods of Yao, Shun and Yu. However, the decline of the faith in the female three-god myth is worthy of attention. We should re-account the myth to help traditional local culture return to people's life. Therefore, the policy adjustment to folk myths and faith management should be the premise for the healthy development of folk culture.

Key words: female three-god myth, Yao-Shun-Yu three-god myth, local discourse, national discourse, contemporary transformation, management of folk faith