土家族梯玛“玩菩萨”仪式及其社会功能——以双坪村卡落坪梯玛班子为例

The Social Functions in "Palying Buddha" Rituals of Tujia Tima

梯玛是土家族社会中的宗教职业者,主要通过巫术活动为人驱鬼逐疫、消灾治病、求子、还愿。在土家族历史上,梯玛信仰广泛存在,梯玛是地位显赫的社会阶层,在土家族社会运行中起着重要作用。改土归流以来,在国家力量的作用下,梯玛信仰在逐渐萎缩,梯玛在多数土家族地区逐渐消失,只是在土家族聚居的深处有残存。尤其是进入现代社会以来,梯玛消失得更快,残存的地方也出现传承断裂,存世的梯玛寥寥无几。改革开放后,在土家语存留区的局部地方出现梯玛信仰的"复兴"。梯玛信仰的复兴是与土家族社会现代性深入不够的背景下还能发挥其特定功能有关。"玩菩萨"仪式及其所具有的社会功能显示出梯玛信仰"复兴"的合理性。

Tima, as the religious professional in Tujia community, aims at driving off ghosts and getting rid of plagues, eliminating disasters and curing diseases, seeking offsprings for others and getting others＇ wishes realized. Due to the extensive Tima belief, Tima once enjoyed a prestigious social position and played a significant role in Tujia social operations in Tujia history, but Tima has graduaUy disappeared in most of Tujia areas, only remained in the areas densely populated by Tujia in modern times. Ever since the policy of reform and opening to the outside world, the Tima belief began to rejuvenate only in areas with the remnant of Tujia langauge. The rejuvenation is closely related to its special functions under the condition of less profound modernity, thus the social functions in ＂Palying Buddha＂ rituals illustrate that the rejuvenation of Tima belief is rational.