A Study On Ethnic Interaction Among Folk Belief

In multi-ethnic regions,a sound development of ethnic group relationship is of great importance for the social stability and development of our country.Taozhou,located in the south of Gansu Province,is a multi-ethnic region.The Dragon God Belief there has developed into regional culture participated in and shared by multi-ethnic groups.It has also become the key platform for ethnic interaction and plays an important role in the development of the local ethnic group relationship.Centered on the Dragon God Belief,this study conducts an empirical study on the local ethnic interaction from the perspective of folk belief.After a clarification of the formation of the Dragon God Belief and the process of other ethnic groups' participation,this study discusses the interactions among ethnic groups during sacrifices,ceremonies and temple fairs,etc.Last but not least,it conducts an analysis of the poly-interaction network constructed by the Dragon God Belief and the identity of the regional community of Taozhou established by the interaction.The whole study is divided into the following four parts:Firstly,The survival environment of the Dragon God Belief.The common ecological environment and spiritual pursuit of harvest faced by multi-ethnic groups in Taozhou prompt the formation of the Dragon God Belief.Once people believe in it,they would be organized to held ceremonies and celebrations to worship the Dragon God.So,the interactions among ethnic groups unfold not only on organizations but also on ceremonies and temple fairs.Secondly,the prototype of the 18 Dragon Gods in Taozhou are national heroes who had the privilege of worship in the Imperial Ancestral Temple in Ming Dynasty.They were worshiped as God of War at the beginning by the garrison soldiers;later,with the formation of Han society,the God of War integrated with local gods and finally formed the eighteen Dragon Gods who had the function of avoiding disasters and bringing blessings.Dragon God temples spread over Taozhou after Ming and Qing Dynasties.When the Dragon God culture transmitted to the Tibetan area,the Tibetan and the Tu ethnic group that were engaged in Demi-agriculture andDemi-animal Husbandry joined the Dragon God Belief in the form of “Malu” and interacted with the Han;and the Hui also recognized the Dragon God Belief overall.This forms a Dragon God culture that is participated in by ethnic groups and makes it possible for in depth ethnic interaction.Thirdly,ethnic groups often interact during sacrifices,ceremonies and temple fairs.The interaction between the Han and other ethnic groups at the Qingmiao Group can be specified into synergy among the principal fair and the branch fairs,gangs and folk organizations on “Malu”.Ceremonies establish harmonious ethnic group relationship via ethnic integration and regional integration.The interaction of symbolic resources and emotional resources inside Taozhou in the temple fairs promotes the formation of Taozhou regional community.The interaction between Taozhou and exterior regions and the interaction between Taozhou as a local force and the state offer the economic and political security.Last but not least,the Dragon God Belief constructs the poly-interaction network,and finally forms the crisscross,interactive ethnic group relationship that reflected as “Cultural diversity,geographic identity”.This embodies the local differences between “unity in diversity” macrotheory and micro society.