明清时期福建女巫的社会角色和作用

The Social Role and Function of the Witches in Fujian during Ming and Qing Dynasties

明清时期,女巫在福建等南方社会中扮演着非常重要的角色,虽然其中不乏装神弄鬼、巧言令色、骗人钱财甚至谋财害命之辈,但由于她们走街串巷,十分了解百姓的困难与需求,在生老病死、测命改运、消除疾病、生产生活等领域中,能为百姓排忧解难,给予百姓们心灵慰藉,因而也受到百姓的欢迎与信任。

Witches played a very important role in Fujian and other southern societies during Ming and Qing Dynasties. Although there were a lot of witches who pretend to be ghosts, rhetoric, deception and even murder, but they wandered about the streets, ware well aware of people＇ s difficulties and needs. They were respected by people for excluding the difficulties and anxiety from sickness and death, foretelling the destiny, eliminating disease and giving spiritual comfort to them.