“寺”“庙”之争:民俗精神符号再造

The Struggle between a Buddhist Temple and a Local Deity’s Temple:the Restoration of a Symbol of Folk-Spirit

作者摒弃那种＂国家与社会＂或＂政府与民间＂的二元对立的思考模式,注意到在国家或政府内部,以及民间或社会内部也存在着并非铁板一块乃至＂分裂＂的现象。凭着这一理论路径,作者对湖南省W县的一寺一庙之间的＂抗争＂进行了研究后发现：庙宇重建是农村社会组织的关键性领地,其中乡土民俗精神起着至关重要的作用。农民们为了维持并张扬当地的民俗理念会积极地与相关各方＂抗争＂,＂抗争＂的过程就是乡土民俗精神符号意义变迁、农民自身容纳力增长、政府治理方式变革的过程。

Opposing some binary antitheses such as " the state versus society " or " the government versus folk society" that have been widely presumed as proper frameworks for understanding modern society,the author acknowledges the lack of unity or,to some extent,the existence of certain "fissions" within each of those opposing categories.Applying this perspective to analyze the struggle between a Buddhist temple and a folk deity’s temple in W county,Hunan province,the author found that the restoration of temples is one of the most critical affairs among the jurisdiction of rural social organizations as it directly concerns local folk- spirit.For preserving and advancing local folk ideals,the peasants would not hesitate to strive against whatever that may be at odds with their inspiration.However,the very struggle for preserving tradition paradoxically brought about some significant changes to the meaning of the symbol of local folk-spirit and to those who fought for it.As the struggle goes on,the tolerance of traditionalist peasants towards alternative practices or interpretations increased,and similarly the government became more tolerant of what it has previously tried to suppress.