On The Folk Beliefs In The Book Of The Qin Dynasty

The almanac (day book) is applied here to texts about selecting dates in order to pursue good fortune and avoid hazards in ancient time. Till now, about eleven almanacs dating to Chu, Qin or Han have been excavated in the recent decades. Here in this paper, we aim to study the popular religion reflected in the Fangmatan bamboo-strip almanacs.By analyzing related archaeological reports, it can be seen that the almanacs are widely accepted in the whole society. The users of day books include not only ordinary people, but also members in the upper class. According to the Fangmatan almanacs, it is clear that the popular beliefs are closely interacted with daily life, which can be divided into three kinds, namely beliefs related with material production, life circle and everyday life. The most important goal for people who hold these beliefs is to pursue the welfare of individuals and families. By analyzing the manuscripts of day books, it can be seen that the ghosts and deities appeared in the world of beliefs of Qin people fall into different systems, which reflects one important feature of popular religion in this area. And also, due to the influence of regional environment, beliefs within the context of Fangmatan almanacs are not only popular, but also rustic and utilitarian.