君子以为文,百姓以为神——昭通民间信仰地名

Gentlemen Believe It to Be a Culture,yet Common People Believe It to Be a God——On Zhaotong place names with folk conviction

中国民间长期流行着一种有别于儒释道三教的传统宗教,其核心就是对天地、鬼神的信仰.古人坚信正是无所不在的“神”,才使得他们的生活井然有序.先民心中的神是山岳湖海的精灵,是天堂地狱的主宰,是芸芸众生灵魂的皈依,是逢凶化吉的救星.昭通丰富多彩的民间信仰地名,反映了先民们的人生百态,记录了历史的沧桑巨变,不仅是研究宗教文化的珍贵史料,也是了解民族文化、风土人情的生动教材.

Among Chinese people, a traditional religion, which is distinct from the three religions of Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism, has been popular for a long period. Its core is the belief in heaven and earth, ghosts and gods. The ancient men firmly believed that it was just the omnipresent gods who brought about their lives in apple-pie order. The gods in ancestors＇ hearts were the spirits of lofty mountains, lakes and seas, they were the dominators in heaven or hell, they were the conversion of all living things＇ souls, and they were the saviour who could turn calamities into bless- ings. Zhaotong＇s varied and colourful place names with folk conviction have reflected ancestors＇ numerous states of life, and noted down the great historic interchanges of sea and land. They are not only the precious historical materials to research into the religious culture and also the vivid teaching materials to understand the national cultures and the local conditions and customs.