The Comprehensive Pictures And Social Functions Of The Suzhou Folk Belief In The Ming Dynasty

Based on gathering a large number of Suzhou local records and other materials andreferring to modern academic research results, this paper systematically combs and sumsup the numbers, distribution, and types of the Suzhou area folk beliefs in the Ming Times,observes their some forms and complex relationships, analyzes that they produced thecomprehensive effects and influences in the social development, and discriminates theircharacteristics. It is considered that these folk beliefs were a culture deposit, so they hadsome waster and better matters. Their social function was a rapier. If letting them drift,they could trigger various social questions and became social hidden troubles. Conversely,if inducing them correctly, it could be benefit, to some extent, to the social harmony andstability, also promote social coordinated development in various aspects.