An Ethnographic Study On The Village Temple Belief Organization In Dazhaoying Village, Dazhaoying Town Of Xinxiang City In Henan Province

Village temple belief is a universal phenomenon in grass-root level of society in China..Influenced by history,politics,economy,culture and various factors,the followers of village temple belief spontaneously form groups that are visible or invisible,which is defined as the organizational process of followers.Dazhaoying is a village with strong traditional village temple belief in its history,and that forms the basis for a rejuvenation of village temple belief in current times.With the developing of its CPC(the Communist Party of China)Committee Branch and the Village Autonomy Committee,the economy of this village is now among the strongest in the town where it is located.Villagers voluntarily join the enriching cultural,physical and entertainment activities organized by the two committees,resulting in fulfillment of villagers' mental well-being and a rejuvenation of village temple belief.Hence the followers of village temple belief gradually becomes organizational and ultimately gave birth to a village organization of the village temple belief: the Ancestor Temple Committee.Then how this process of the temple belief organization is achieved in this village? How is the Ancestor Temple Committee doing in organizing it? Is there any possibility for this committee to transform into a modern social organization? This thesis presents the rejuvenating process of village temple belief in this village ever since the 1980 s which embodies the process of the temple belief organization came into being.New Year's entertainment party and temple praying activity during the 2017 Spring Festival are also recorded to observe the organizing level of the Ancestor Temple Committee.On that basis and by comparisons with the characteristics and standards of modern social organizations,this thesis conducted an analysis into the possibility for this committee to transform into a modern social organization.This thesis is written in the manner of ethnography,containing two parts.Part One is an introduction showing the purpose of study,status quote of researches in this area,theoretic framework,study methodology and the field investigation arrangement.Part Two is the main body and conclusions.In the first chapter,natural ans social environments of Dazhaoying village is comprehensively introduced;In the second chapter,the focus is on rejuvenating process of village temple belief and the process of systematizing of village temple belief followers in this village;Chapter Three deals with the entertainment and praying activities during the 2017 Spring Festival while in the fourth chapter,the following conclusions are drawn upon analysis of the organization form of the Temple Committee according to criteria of modern social organizations: As an organization of village temple belief,the difference between the organization members and normal villagers is vague,the members,in fact,have little communication about the daily affairs concerning the Temple Committee,thus only the key person is in charge.What the members actually care is their communication with god and the realization of the giving-blessing relationship with god.Therefore,this is more of a group of people that "practice religion together" than a real organization.There is discipline but it is not forceful,and the activity of this committee is also dominated by the CPC(the Communist Party of China)Committee Branch and the Village Autonomy Committee.Hence the Temple Committee does not show the possibility of transforming into a modern social organization.