宋代妈祖信仰传播的地理过程及其推力分析

The Process of Geographical Spread and Matsu Belief and It′s Driving Forces in Song Dynasty

对宋代妈祖信仰传播的地理空间分布及扩散态势与不同信仰人群间的关联进行分析,认为民间信仰的一种传播和扩散途径是从较低的社会阶层开始,逐步向较高的社会阶层扩散,并随着不同信仰人群的不同行为方式和活动空间特征,向着不同的传播路径进行传播,并形成不同的地理空间分布特征。宋代是妈祖信仰发展的初期,渔民、海员海商和地方士绅官员这些不同的信仰群体在妈祖信仰传播地域扩大过程中先后加入,逐步实现信仰的等级扩散。不同信仰群体对其地域扩散推动方式不同:渔民群体以短距离传染性扩展扩散为主,海员海商群体以长距离迁移扩散为主,士绅官宦群体二者兼而有之。不同信仰群体对信仰地域传播形成的地理分布态势不同。渔民群体产生沿海岸小范围密集型分布,海员海商产生港口集镇分布特征,士绅官宦推动信仰向着政治中心传播。这些不同的传播类型和分布态势与各人群活动地域和行为方式密切相关。

The relationship between the geo-spatial distribution and diffusion of Matsu belief and the people who belong to different faith groups in Song Dynasty was analyzed in the paper and the view was pointed out that one path of belief’s spread was beginning from lower rank, then diffusing to higher ones and belif spread in different ways based on diverse behaviors and multiple activity spaces of those belonging to various faith groups and finally formed different geographical spatial distribution. Song Dynasty was the early stagement of the Matsu belief’s development. Several different groups, fisherman, seafarer and local official, joined one after another in the process of Matsu belief’s geographical expansion, which made the belief spread among ranks little by little. Different faith groups caused the geographical spread in different ways. For example, fishermen made Mutsu belief expand in an short-distance and maritime seafarers brought a long-distance migrating spread while local officials influence the spread of belief both in the way of fishermen and maritime seafarers. Different faith groups formed different geographical distribution situation. Fishermen resulted in the small-scale belief distribution along coast and the seamen formed market towns and maritime ports belief distribution mode, while local officials promoted the belief to spread towards the political center. Those different spreading modes and distribution were closely related with different groups’ activities and their geographical situations. Geographic units and dialects were the most two important barriers to the belif’s distribution scale and space. Furthermore, belief also spread among people with different ranks from the fishmen to rich seafarers, even to the higher political status such as gentry and courtiers class. Geographical space spread with different ranks simultaneously. The claim of the gentry and official for the social and political status turned the geographic characters of spread of Matsu belief to political center. After the deification of Matsu by government, the spread mode had changed fundamentally. The power of empire promoted the belief to diffuse to the districts which have more diversit in culture. The proliferation in geographical space and social rank interacted each other. As a particular culture phenomenon, the formation and development of Matsu belief is the result of the interaction by the concrete social situation （the condition and criteria of belief in the mainstream）, geography situation （geographic environment and relationship between environment and people） and community （faith groups that had the same or similar spirit requirement ）. Foundation of Matsu belief is the particular spirits （such as sail protection of Matsu） and Matsu belief connects the faith groups which have the same needs of belief, such as the fisher, sailing, trader in sea, gentleman nearby sea, （they lived by sea and all wanted food, wealth from the sea, prayed safety from Matsu） , and local officials who use the belief to achieve their political goals. Matsu belief occupies the geographical space by those faith groups and fits the need of society, which forms a complete historic culture and geography process.