The Study Of Emperor Yao Worship In Linfen And The Local Society In Ming And Qing Dynasties

As one of "Five Emperors", Yao was the leader of the tribal alliance in the Legendary Age and the ancestor of Huaxia civilization, who was revered by common people. After foundation of new regime with making Pingyang the capital, Yao had built a sparkling image of the Great Emperor by a series of political initiatives, such as civilizing people, formulating calendar, controling flood, selecting the talented and the capable for public service and demising to Yu, then by the same way to Shun, and so on. Since the rising of Chenwei theology in Eastern Han Dynasty, Emperor Yao was endowed with character of God, who then became a saint and god in people's heart. From then on, therefore, he was adored vigorously by both government and ordinary people in the successive dynasties, especially in Ming and Qing dynasties, during which the local forces showed their respect by frequently repairing Yao tomb and Yao temple and holding some grand fete ceremonies. In the meantime, the Emperor Yao worship had an important impact on the local society in Linfen, which not only favored the controling and the development of its social economy, but also grew into an important link to local people. This article adopts the perspective of regional social history, making Linfen Emperor worship as the research object, placing it in a longer period of Ming and Qing dynasties, to investigate and analyse deeply the interactive relationship between Linfen Emperor worship and the local society, hoping to further promote the research of the regional society in extension and depth.