A Study On The Phenomenon Of Xian Furen Beliefs And Its Expansion At Gaozhou City In Western Guangdong Province

This dissertation bases itself upon the cultural backgrounds of the human’scivilization in the epoch of Globalization, and based on historical anthropologicalperspective. Selecting Xian Furen beliefs in southwestern Guangdong province,GaoZhou city as the object of observation to carry on literature study and fieldinvestigation. It analyzes the phenomenon of cultural identity of the the local ethnicgroups to Xian Furen belief, and clearing the sacrifice circle of the changing process.It aims to discover cultural values and deep concept of cultural identity of the localethnic, and discuss the influence of the modern transformation of society to the ruralfolk belief, the self adjustment which the rural belief have shown. It’s helpful torealize the rational assurance between traditional culture and the modernity.There are five parts altogether. Part one: Introduces the topic,literature reviewand the method in the research.Part two: this part mainly introduces the geographical location, historical andcultural traditions of Gaozhou in the western Guangdong. Gaozhou has a long historyand culture period, which was the Bai Yue area in ancient, the bureaucrat and otherethnic settled in the northern and Southern Dynasties. Miss Xian was the tribal leaderin the Li area of south of the five ridges in the northern and Southern Dynasties. Alsoshe was the national hero for the great contribution on the national integration andunity of the country. The memorial and worship to Miss Xian wan spreading far awayin the history.Part three: The focus and difficulty of the article is Xian Furen faith andexpansion of the phenomenon. It has three parts: Firstly, focus on the views of threeclasses, there are farmer, clergy and cadre, analysis the respective belief and thecause. Secondly, setting the Leidong area of Gaozhou city for the example,examines specific ceremony of “Nian Li”, analysis the state of Xian Furen belief inthe local village of “Xian”. At the same time, display the anniversary ceremony ofthe day of Xian Furen’s birthday, analysis some thoughts on the ceremony ofreciprocal exchange between people and Gods: Sacrificial activities mainly for thereciprocal expression of tools and the belonging need in the spirit in addition to the expression of memory.Part four: present the temples’ location and quantity distribution of Xian Furen,as the analysis object to study the phenomenon of expansion in the faith. Based on thelong history foundation of Gaozhou and its traditional beliefs, and for factors of thespread of stories and legends, the influence of the mysterious power, the guiding ofgovernment policy, Xianfuren worship circle shows an extension trend. Xianfurentemple is the center of the cultural identity carrier. Alowwing the center of GaozhouXianfuren temple and Jiucheng Xiainfuren temple, Xianfuren worship circle expandsto its around, and change to voluntary belief circle.Part five:It will talk about the meaning of Xian Furen beliefs in the modernsociety and necessity of folk beliefs. Also it will point out some problems that weshould be paid attention to Combined with Xian Furen faith phenomenon, from theaspects of cultural identity and cultural consciousness, discuss folk beliefs in modernadaptation of the way an method.Part six:After synthetically analyzing the interaction and analysis the meaning ofcultural identity, we wish it can provide strength supply in the reality action and thetheory, and attract more attention to guide correctly the development of the culture offolk belief, focused on the spirit world which our survival and development mustdepend on.