沪上民间信仰刍议

On the Folk Belief in Shanghai

民间信仰的崇信对象繁杂,表现形式多样,渗透于人们生活的各个角落。由于民间信仰的自身特点、人文环境的变化以及人们认识能力的提高等原因,上海地区祠祭形式的民间信仰总体上趋于衰落,但近年又有复苏的迹象。而散在的民间信仰活动,如巫术、占卜、预兆、禁忌以及祖灵崇拜等现象还时时可见,其社会原因是深层次、多方面的。民俗传承的滞后性决定了信仰习俗的演变不可能与社会发展同步,上海在步入现代化的进程中应重视其对社会的影响。

The objects of folk beliefs are complicated and diverse and. associated with every aspect of life. Generally speaking the folk belief in the form of sacrifice in Shanghai has declined on account of the characteristics of the folk belief itself, of changes in human circumstances and of the enhancement of people's cognitive ability, but it has shown signs of revival recently. Meanwhile, witchcraft, divination, presage, taboo, and ancestor worship involved in the activities of the folk belief can be seen quite often. Such phenomena have their profound and diverse social causes. The evolution of the belief tradition can not take parallel steps with social development because of the stagnancy of dissemination and succession of the folk customs. We should pay more attention to its influence on society while Shanghai is making headway in the process of modernization.