A Study On The Water God's Religion Along The Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal Region In The Ming And Qing Dynasties

Water is the source of all things,and closely related with the people's production and daily life,since ancient times,the water god's religion of people is very developed.The water god's religion is mainly for the worship of the Yellow river god in the Pre-Qin Dynasty to the Qin and Han Dynasties.After the Tang and Song dynasties,the type of water of god are more and more,the relevant records are increasingly abundant.the water god's religion along the Grand Canal region is prevailed in the Ming and Qing Dynasties,has the profound natural and social causes.The flood,drought,tidal and other disasters caused by natural geographical environment of is the main reason for leading to a variety of water flood control god,pray for rain god,tidal god influx and popular.The reality needs of the grain's transportation,the Yellow River and canal's governance has become an important factor in promoting the formation and development of the Jinlong Sidawang,YanGong and other canal water god.The water god has numerous species,according to its properties and functions can be divided into two categories the official canal water god and folk water god.The Canal water god include The Jinlong Sidawang,YanGong and numerous public water conservancy personal God,wen,Si,Zhang,Wei Rivers and oher canal-related natural river also belongs to the category of the canal water god.Among the numerous Canal personal god,Song Li,Bai Ying are most representative.The folk god include the Dragon King,Zhenwu,SanGuan and other god of pray for rain,and a large number of regional water god.The formation and development of the water god influenced by Confucianism,Buddhism and Taoism,and its process of evolution showing the conversion from the natural god to the personal god and so on.Along the Grand Canal region has numerous temples of water god in the Ming and Qing Dynasties,the distribution has a significant regional differences.the geographical distribution of the Jinlong Sidawang's temple are closely related to the severity of the flooding of the Yellow River,The northern Jiangsu interchange the Yellow River and the Canal,with severe flooding,the temples is most.The frequent occurrence of flood and drought,making the dragon god's temples for flood control and pray for rain widely distributed along the canal region.The differences in the geography and climate,making the temple's number of Zhenwu,SanGuan,pray for rain God and so on,the northern area is more than the south.Most of the water god's temples have monks,priests or keepers of the temple,dedicated to the daily management of the temple and worship.The temple's daily expenses and incense offer from The Worship's fields.The water god temples are built by the official,whose funding mainly comes from official donor funding and officials sent by the local officials.The funds of folk water god temples are mainly from the local gentry and the people of the donor,Most of the worship group is the local gentry and the Ordinary people.Tianfei's religion origin in Fujian Province,based on the importance of sea and river transport,The Tianfei is constantly sealed by the official Song,Yuan,Ming and Qing Dynasties.extended from coastal areas to the southeast along the canal region in the period of Ming and Qing Dynasties,Fujian businessman played an important role.Most of Fujian's Hall along the canal region worship the Tianfei god,and numerous temples of Goddess are also the function of the Fujian Hall.The difference of geographical environment and the practical needs makes Tianfei's religion showing a significant regional differences.Among the many temples of Goddess,Qingkou HuiJici of Huaian is most representative.Vital importance of river and canal's training,important geographical location of Qingkou is main reason to worship HuiJici by the rulers of Qing Dynasty.The water god's religion show mystery faith,universal group,utilitarian purpose,and other features,The appearance of these features has profound natural and social causes.The Water god religion has a profound impact to the State of Ming and Qing dynasties and along region community.The imperial rulers of Ming and Qing Qing dynasties take through adding titles,the construction of temples,awarded plaques,written oration,a grand ritual and other means,take the Jinlong Sidawang,Tianfei,which is the god related to the water transport and river training bring in the relevant of national Ceremony,and as the apotheosis of feudal rule,strengthen imperial power,implement social enlightenment.The Water god's temple provide worship places for the officials and military of water transport,at the same time,aiso become an important means to govern the river and canal by the officials of the river.The local officials take through worship the water god,pray for rain,pray for sunny and other activities,to achieve effective control of the local community,and achieve the purpose of people's enlightenment.The water god religion have the significant impact on the agricultural production,fishing,shipping transport,form the unique custom and habit.While the water god religion exert culture ornamental function,promote regional cultural exchanges,but also has the significant impact on the social climate.The temple's fair of water god generated in the worship water god not only promote commodity trading,but also enrich the cultural life of the local people.