Purity And Filth

Purity and filthis one of the classic topics in anthropology.In the past,the concept of purity and filth was ignored in the study of Liangshan Yi culture.In fact,purity and pollution are the most important ideas in Liangshan Yi’s religious culture.It runs throughout the religious rituals of the Yi people.All kinds of rituals are always connected with purity.The rituals are sacred,and everything related to holiness must be pure.If the rituals are sacred,the most important condition is purity.In daily life,people should abide by all kinds of rules of purity,which affect all aspects of social life of Yi people,and play an important role in restraining people’s thinking and behavior,building social relations and maintaining social order.This paper focus on the concept of purity and pollution,which has been neglected by the academic circle in the study of Liangshan Yi culture.Based on rich field research and detailed discussion supported by document literature,and through a tentative dialogue with Douglas and other filth theories,this paper reveals the mechanism of purity and filth,which runs through the holy life of Liangshan Yi people,and that it is of great theoretical and practical significance to carry forward the excellent traditional culture of Yi ethnic group and strengthen the social harmony,stability and order.On the basis of the basic review of the relevant research at home and abroad,this paper first teases the types of filth by combining the concept of purity and sanitation,and reveals the core position of the concept of purity and filth in Liangshan Yi culture;and expounds the function,purpose and significance of filth purificationthrough the analysis of the eight kinds of rituals of filth purification;then,from the concept of "pollution and disease",it expounds the function,purpose and significance of pollution purification.This paper explains that the cause of diseases is filth,and discusses the symbiotic relationship between disease and filth through the analysis of the case of the ritual of offering medicine to cure diseases.With the help of Douglas’ s relevant theoretical perspectivefrom the perspective of anthropologist,and combined with anthropological theory of body symbolismand cultural background of Liangshan Yi people,this paper also analyzes the implied metaphor,taboo and boundary of body purity in every stage and aspect of Nipmu Cobi.Then,the paper studies the filthiness of Yi ethnic group in Liangshan as a classification system,discusses the cultural and social significance of those subcategories in the classification of filthiness of Yi ethnic group in a more specific way,and expounds significance of each of them at the personal,ecological and social levels.Finally,through analyzing the concept of purity and filth of Yi ethnic group in Liangshan from cultural perspectives,this paper not only summarizes the four principles of ternary opposition,but also discusses the relationship between the related theme and social governance and rural revitalization,which provides a new perspective and new depth for people to grasp the society and culture of the Yi ethnic group in Liangshan.As a specific form of behavior on the level of religious consciousness of the Yi people in Liangshan,Nipmu Cobi has always attracted the attention of anthropology,ethnology and religious circles.It can be said that if we do not study Nipmu Cobi and its scriptures,we cannot study the concept of purity and filth of Yi people in Liangshan.In order to explore the cultural connotation and social significance of the concept of purity and filth of Yi people,it is necessary to study Nipmu Cobi.Only when purity and filth are closely combined with Nipmu Cobi and studied in a specific ritual can it have religious significance.Only in this way can we reflect the sacredness of purity and the dangerous power of filth,as well as the symbolic meaning and social function of cleanliness and impurity.The research on the concept of purity and filth of Yi people in Liangshan can provide a case for the diversity of purity and filth concept of the ethnic minority group in China and the local applicability of the western anthropological filth theory.Thus to promote and increase the cohesion of the Chinese nationfrom the deeper cultural accumulation,and further deepen the understanding of the Chinese nation’s multi-cultural integration history and culture.