由巫至神转变之灵验传说与美德故事的特点——以妈祖和陈靖姑为中心

On the Features of Efficacious Legend and Virtue Story in the Transformation from Witches to Cults-Centered on Mazu and Chen Jing-gu

在福建历史上,演变为祠神的巫觋为数不少,妈祖和陈靖姑是其中著名者。由巫至神之路,也是信民造神的过程。在这一过程中,灵验传说和美德故事起到了重要的作用。灵验传说的主要特点有:满足信众需要、神明功能多样、实现本土化。美德故事的特点则是攀附制度化宗教(包括佛教和道教)和用儒家传统伦理塑造神明形象。从信民编排的美德故事中,可以看出祠神信仰的道德取向。

Historically speaking, there have been many cults evolved from wizards in Fujian Province, among which Mazu and Chen Jinggu are most well known. The way from witches to cults is a process of cults - making by the believers, in which the efficacious legends and virtue stories have played a vital role. Efficacious legends have their features like meeting the believers＇ needs, diversifying the functions of cults and localizing cults, while the virtue stories are mainly focused on affiliating to systematic religion （including Buddhism and Daoism） and shaping the image of cults with the help of Confucianism. Therefore the moral orientation of popular cults can be seen from the virtue stories made up by believers.