On Jianxi Necromancers In Ming Dynasty

“Necromancers” refer to those who have skills related to divination, hexagrams,physiognomy, five element theory, astrology, geomancy, medicine and housing etc.Though necromancers have always been excluded from orthodoxy culture, they havea long history and strong vitality. They have been active throughout the ancientdynasties in China. Especially in areas of present-day Jiangxi in Ming Dynasty, anumber of influential necromancers had great success in geomancy and medicine. Theexistence of Taoist Master Mansion has ensured good environment for thedevelopment of necromancy in Jiangxi.The composition of Jiangxi necromancers in Ming Dynasty was relativelycomplicated. In terms of social composition, they could be divided into Buddhists,Taoists and commoners. The commoners could be subdivided. Their inheritancepatterns were also varied from each other. Some learnt from masters, some learntfrom family members, and others learnt through self-study.Jiangxi necromancers in Ming Dynasty had highly developed necromancy skillsand essential moral qualities and high educational level. They were famous fornecromancy skills, which were essential to their popularity in Jiangxi. With essentialmoral qualities, many necromancers were famous for filial piety and practicedmedicine or other charitable activities without pay. They had relatively higheducational level, leaving behind many works on necromancy, especially on medicine.Of course, there were also many charlatans among them.According to their different necromancy skills, Jiangxi necromancers in MingDynasty made a living through different ways. Some worked as imperial officials;some depended on powerful officials, some lived as hermits in mountains or temples,and others traveled around in the lower society. Whatever way they chose to live, theyhad impact on the society then. They cooperated with local powers and had influenceon fields such as the imperial examination, funeral, disaster relief and medication inthen Jiangxi.The author of this thesis tries to get an overall grasp on Ming necromancers as awhole through studying necromancers in then Jiangxi as well as to get deeperunderstanding of the unique cultural phenomenon of the popularity of Jiangxinecromancy in Ming Dynasty.