Local Powers And Changes Of Folk Religion From Modern Age

The object of this thesis is Panhu belief changes at Manshui village in Mayang Miao autonomous county, and focus on the belief changing process of that temple under local power owners influence. Based on the field survey data, the author especially analyzed the interaction between Panhu belief in Manshui and local power since the beginning of the20th century and the possible effects to the further.After Tian clan exterminated Hongjin risers as scholar-bureaucrat and constructed the Panhu Temple in1404, although it happened all kinds of changes in that temple, Panhu belief was still firmly inherited by Tian clan in a great long time, those three gods in that temple became the ancestral divinities. In modern times, Panhu belief in Manshui village gradually diffused, it developed from clan’s belief to village community’s belief. Moreover, under the impetuses of local government, Tian clan and local elites at present, Panhu raised as "Totem" of Miao people in Mayang and Panhu temple became the big well-known temple over that county. Various kinds of powers took part in the recreation of Panhu belief, and forced it realized a deal of great changes. On the basis of these phenomenons,this thesis elaborate those cases including relocate of Panhu temple, phenomenon of Longwangmiao, changes of Longchuan association and the phenomenon of "Three gods in one temple" at present, and it also discusses some issues such as the build of new Panhu hall, the local power owners’interaction relationship in Panhu belief and the planning of Manshui village in modern times. The author consider the multiple levels of attribute of Panhu belief in Manshui village is a result of the game between Tian clan’s Longchuanhui and outsiders in history, though most outsiders are also local power owners. In despite of great deal of particular phenomenon happened in Panhu belief’s tussle and sometimes foreign power hold the preponderant position, but eventually Tian clan dominanted it and formed the three element structure situation that fight and compromise between local government and Tian clan. Village Committee and other forces act the middleman in this situation.Taking into account these information, the author believe that Panhu belief changes are the result of struggles of local power owners, those competitors hope to control it and maximized their interests. It is the reason resulted the unusual distinct features of the Panhu belief culture.