蒙古族地神崇拜观念的形成及演变

The Formation and Evolution of the Concept of Worshiping the Mongolian God of Earth

蒙古族的地神(斡脱坚)崇拜观念,是与天神(腾格里)崇拜相呼应的一种宗教文化现象,是萨满教自然崇拜中仅次于天神崇拜的一项具有代表性的宗教活动,源自于普遍信奉萨满教的远古北方草原民族。蒙古人认为天神是创造万物的父亲,地神是滋养万物的母亲。他们不但崇拜地神,还要对地神进行祭祀,把食物的精华(德吉)献给大地。对今人而言,崇拜地神有崇尚自然、爱护地球的积极意义和深刻内涵。

The concept of worshiping the Mongolian God of Earth （wotuojian） , as a counterpart to the similar religious and cultural phenomenon of worshiping God of Heaven （tenggeli）, is only second to worshiping God of Heaven-a representa- tive natural religious worshipping activity in the shamanism-derived from the ancient northern nomadic nations who were gen- erally shamanic. Mongolians believe that God of Heaven was the father who created all things and God of Earth was the mother who nourished all things. They not only worshiped God of Earth, but also offered sacrifices to God of Earth and mean- while dedicated the essence of the food to the earth. For the people today, the worship of God of Earth included the respect for God of Earth and the care for the Earth in its positive sense and in its profound connotation.