An Investigation Of Belief Of Erlangshen In Amdo Areas:Temple, Ritual And Characteristics

Erlangshen, which is one of important God of the immortal system of Taoism and famous in Han areas historically. Belief in Erlangshen also prevalent in Amdo areas where’s dominant religion is Tibetan Buddhism and Bon, there’re a lots of temples, rituals, ceremony and some factoes of the folk belief. This paper is based on the field invetigation in Huangnan and hainan where have had this belief many times, and combined with some theories on historical philology, sociology of religion, ethnology, anthropology to study integration of religion and ethnic group’ culture of Erlangshen in Amdo areas. The first part of paper account of the historical source, spread and the congnition of the belief in the Amdo areas, and draw the conclusionthat this belief came from the tribe of Di and Qiang’s customs in history; the second describe Erlangshen’s temples and immortal system there, so express the of temple’s distribution and God’s function; the third reappear the scene of sacrificial ceremony to the Erlangshen so that we can analyze many matters and traits in the belief; under the basics of context, the last part of paper discusses religious trait and social function of belief in Erlangshen. As a special phenomenon, this belief is influenced by Tibetan Buddism culture, and has many Taoism and folk belief’s factors. The paper unearths Di and Qiang’s belief customs legancy through much of materials which contains function of identify to enthic group, strenthen communication and cultural intergration. reflects the way of communications in ancient minorities, finally contributes to comprehend ethnic relations and promot the protection of traditional culture.