论堕民的老郎菩萨信仰

On Duomin's Belief on Dethroned Bodhisattva Lao Lang

堕民乃宋以来江浙沪地区的区域性贱民,堕民艺人将老郎菩萨奉为祖师爷。堕民聚居区均建有老郎庙,堕民于老郎菩萨生日均举行隆重祭祀仪式,以演剧酬神。堕民艺人演出时,携带老郎菩萨,恭奉有加。堕民艺人有违规行为,也以老郎菩萨的名义予以处罚。老郎菩萨之所以被附会为唐明皇或翼宿星君,是因为堕民欲假借帝王乃至天神以自重。

Duomin has been a regional pariah in Jiangsu,Zhejiang and Shanghai since the Song dynasty.Duomin artists regarded Bodhisattva Lao Lang as their master,hence many Lao Lang temples in Duomin agglomerations.They held ceremonious sacrifices on the birthday of Bodhisattva Lao Lang.When Duomin artists made a performance,they also carried Bodhisattva Lao Lang,paying due respect and worship to him.If they sometimes violated certain regulations,Duomin artists would be punished in the name of Bodhisattva Lao Lang.The reason why Bodhisattva Lao Lang was attached to Emperor Tang Minghuang or Wing Star Monarch is that Duomin wanted to raise their social status in the name of emperors or gods.