Folk belief and custom (Baosheng emperor's belief and custom)

The name of China's national intangible cultural heritage: folk belief and custom

Applicant: Longhai City, Fujian Province

Item No.: 992

Project No.: Ⅹ - 85

Time of publication: 2008 (second batch)

Category: folk customs

Region: Fujian Province

Type: new item

Applicant: Longhai City, Fujian Province

Protection unit: Management Committee of Tzu Chi ancestral palace, Baijiao, Zhangzhou Taiwan investment zone

Brief introduction of folk belief custom (Baosheng Dadi belief custom)

Applicant: Longhai City, Fujian Province

Faithfulness, also known as "popular belief", is a conventional traditional idea formed in the process of people's long-term production and life. Under the domination of this idea, people will have psychological and behavioral identification with some folk phenomenon. The deities worshipped by traditional folk beliefs are an important source of belief and custom. Praying for blessings and avoiding harm is the internal reason for the continuous inheritance of traditional belief and custom. The collection of various forms of folk culture forms the cultural space of folk belief and custom.

The belief custom of Baosheng emperor includes offering sacrifices, offering incense, praying for medicated swabs, touring and so on. Its origin can be traced back to the middle of Northern Song Dynasty. In the late Ming Dynasty and the Qing Dynasty, the belief of Baosheng emperor flowed into Taiwan with the reclaimers. At present, the Chinese mainland and Taiwan's Baosheng emperor's sacrifices have been extended to the ancient system and combined with local folklore, thus forming a ceremony with local characteristics of Fujian and Taiwan, which has great influence both at home and abroad.

Baosheng emperor was born in Baijiao, Tongan County, Northern Song Dynasty. He was proficient in medical skills and used superb means of treatment to relieve the people. He was named "yilingzhenren" by the folk private posthumous title, and was praised by the past dynasties. In the 17th year of Yongle (1419) of the Ming Dynasty, the imperial court granted Wu the title of "benevolent Lord Haotian Jinque, imperial censor, Tzu Chi, doctor lingmiao, true monarch, Emperor Wanshou Wuji, Emperor Baosheng". Among the people, Baosheng emperor is also known as "Wu Zhenren" or "Daogong".

The Tzu Chi palace is located in Qishan mountain at the foot of dongmingling mountain in qingjiao village, Haicang District, Xiamen City, Fujian Province. On the North Bank of Jiulong River, more than 100000 pilgrims from home and abroad visit the ancestral temple of Baosheng great emperor of qingjiao Tzu Chi palace every year. As a result, qingjiao Tzu Chi palace has become the center of Baosheng Tzu Chi Culture in the world.

Baijiao Tzu Chi palace is located in Baijiao village, jiaomei Town, Longhai City, Fujian Province. The Birthday Ceremony of Wu Zhenren in Baijiao Tzu Chi palace is a kind of traditional sacrificial ceremony pursued by people on both sides of the Strait. The participants are mainly Longhai people, extending to people on both sides of the Strait and overseas Chinese in Southeast Asia.

The 15th of the third month of the lunar calendar is the birthday of Wu Zhenren. The ceremony consists of several links. First, the bell rings nine times and the drum beats three times. Then, the cannon fires. It shares the incense with the sacrificial person and makes the incense ceremony. Then, it presents flowers, tea, fruit, sacrifice, money and silk to Wu Zhenren. Finally, it makes three kneeling and nine kowtows to Wu Zhenren and all the worshiping gods. Then they went around the country, and the parade team went through the fire, with the white reef Tzu Chi palace flag, child prodigy array, tranquility card, statue of God, parasol as the lead, and a full set of bands. During the ceremony, folk art activities were also carried out, including Zhangzhou puppet opera, Nanyin opera and Xiang opera from Taiwan.

The belief and custom of Baosheng emperor includes a series of contents such as Fujian and Taiwan folk culture, Fujian and Taiwan history, folk medicine, folk art, folk religious belief, etc., which has research value in sociology, religion, folklore, Fujian and Taiwan local history and culture.