Liaodong Manchu Rituals And Symbolic Study

Cultural symbols stand a very important concentration in the field of anthropology. Symbols manifest ethnicity, hence the diversity of the symbols of different ethnic groups. Based on field research and referring to the historical records, the author adopts the symbolic anthropology and cultural acculturation theory to expound the ritual symbols of the Xiuyan Manchu Autonomous County in east Liaoning Province.First, the author describes the various ritual symbols of Manchu ethnic group, explicates their manifested concepts and implications, explores the reasons why the ritual symbols of Manchu are the same as or similar to those of Han ethnic group, and reaches the conclusion that it's the cultural acculturation that made the things stand thus.Second, the author expounds the characteristics of ritual symbols, which are classified by entity symbols, behavior symbols, speech symbols, colour symbols and location symbols, addresses the multi-vocality, variability and ethnicity of the Manchu ethnic group's ritual symbols.Third, referring to the detailed examination of the Manchu's symbolic forms and behaviors, the author reaches the conclusion that entity symbols, behavior symbols, speech symbols, colour symbols and location symbols are the external structure of symbols while the Manchu's outlooks on life, marriage and family, concepts of ethics, morals and religion and ethnic identity perspective are the internal structure of symbols.