镇水、平浪与祈雨:清代小圣信仰的历史考察

Controlling Water, Flatting Waves and Praying for Rain: Historical Review of Xiaosheng's Religion in the Qing Dynasty

小圣,又称"平浪元侯",因其人物原型明代清河县书生滕经在天津落水成神,故小圣信仰在天津尤为盛行。为推动信仰的传播,证明其正统性和合法性,民间伪造了众多有关小圣的封号和传说。由于天津为海盐产地,盐业运输艰难,小圣在一定程度上扮演了盐运保护神的角色。除平浪和镇水外,官方和民间还赋予了其祈雨的功能,并形成了具有浓厚地域特色的庙会风俗。在官方和民间的共同努力下,小圣信仰的地域逐渐扩展,形成了以天津为中心,辐射直隶、山东等地的信仰祭祀圈。

Xiaosheng is known as ＂Ping Lang Yuan Hou＂. The archetype of Xiaosheng was Tengjing who was a scholar from Qinghe County in the Ming Dynast. He drowned in Tianjin and then turned into a god. Thus, Xiaosheng religion in Tianjin was particularly popular. The folk people forged numerous titles and legends to prove its legitimacy and legality, which promote the religion. Tianjing was origin of sea salt, but the salt transport was very difficult. Xiaosheng, in some extent, played a role of protector for salt industry. In addition to flatting waves and controlling water, Xiaosheng also shouldered responsibility of praying for rain. The custom of Temple fair with a strong regional characteristics was also formed. With the cooperation of government and citizens, the area of Xiaosheng＇s religion gradually expanded into a circle centered in Tianjin and expanded to Zhili, Shandong and other places.