碑刻资料所见明清山西忻州地区民间信仰

Folk Beliefs in Xinzhou Region of Shanxi Province in the Ming and Qing Dynasty as Seen from Tablets Inscriptions Materials

明清时期,山西忻州地区民间信仰内涵十分丰富,既有对自然神、历史人物的崇拜,也有对宗教神灵、其他民间神灵的敬奉,这一现象在当地的碑刻资料中记载甚为详尽。民众对神灵的信仰集中体现了功利性、自发性以及地方性的特点,透过这些特性,可以窥探到明清时期忻州地区干旱少雨、战争频发的地理、社会环境。而民间信仰在保护自然环境、稳定社会秩序、调节民众心理方面亦生产了一定的积极影响。

In the Ming and Qing Dynasty,the connotations of folk beliefs in Xinzhou region of Shanxi Province are extremely rich,with both worship of nature gods and historical figures,and veneration of religious and other folk beliefs deities.This phenomenon is recorded in great details in local tablets inscriptions materials.The general publics'worship of deities pointedly reflected the characteristics of utilitarianism,spontaneity,and local features.Through these characteristics,we can pry into the geographical and social environment with frequent droughts and wars in the Xinzhou region of Ming and Qing Dynasty.Folk beliefs created certain positive influences on protection of natural environment,stabilization of social order,and adjusting psychology of the general public.