略论舶(舟)人的宗教活动

The Religious Activities of Chinese Boatmen

舶人通过奉请神灵上船,放小舟、彩船,以禳人船之灾。当船遇险时,不同宗教信徒采取不同方式,沿途祭祀神灵,举行祈风典礼,祈求神灵保佑。对客死异乡的亲人,延请僧道,设道场,为之招魂,荐冥福。平安到达目的地要建庙、送匾联、船模,设水陆道场,演戏等答谢神灵,祈望继续得到神灵的保佑。

Carrying statues of deities on board and releasing small, colored boat models on the river are rituals that boatmen usually practice to seek supernatural protec- tion against misfortunes at sea. When encountering danger at sea, the boatmen would conduct their respective rituals to offer sacrifice to deities, praying for good wind and for the deities＇ blessing all along the way. For people who died far away from their home- town, the living boatmen would invite monks or Taoist priests to perform rites in the hope of guiding the souls of the dead and bringing them better fortune in the other world. For people who returned safely, they performed ＂land and water rites＂, built temples, sending inscribed boards and boat models, to ensure the continuous protection of deities.