Journal of East China Normal University (Philosoph ›› 2014, Vol. 46 ›› Issue (4): 69-78.

• 明清宗教信仰研究 • Previous Articles     Next Articles

The Relationship between the Local and the National in the Sacrifice System of Jiangnan: A Case Study on Jinze Town, Suzhou Province and Songjiang Province

LI Tian-gang   

  • Online:2014-07-15 Published:2014-10-02
  • Contact: LI Tian-gang
  • About author: LI Tian-gang

Abstract: The gods in folk religions have their symbolic meaning of both the local and the national. However, the relationship between the local and the national in folk religion has been seldom discussed in today’s religious circle. By studying the sacrifice forms in folk religion in Jinze Town, this paper attempts to provide a new dimension. A folk religion with “Lord Yang” as the main god has been preserved till now in Jinze Town, Qingpu District, Shanghai. The religious pattern of “temple and bridge” in the town forms a sacrifice system of Confucianism dating back to the Ming and Qing Dynasties, which reflects many features of local religion in Jiangnan area since medieval times. Jiangnan folk religion is a complete faith system, in which Confucian sacrifice is national while various “Lords” are local. Based on the field investigation in Jinze and the examination of local chronicles of Suzhou Province and Songjiang Province, this paper shows that the sacrifice system on the township level is an important pillar that supports local societies in Jiangnan.