明清珠江三角洲北帝庙的特点与功能

Functions and Characteristics of Beidi Temples on the Pearl River Delta during the Ming-Qing Period

明清时期,岭南成为真武崇祀最兴盛的地区之一。通过调研并分析珠三角31个真武宫庙和97通碑刻文本,发现真武(北帝)崇祀传入珠江三角洲后,不仅承继着迁出地中原地区的传统,又在安置地进行自我调适,因应迁入地的不同需求,演绎出不同的文化角色,发挥着不同的社会文化功能,北帝庙宇成为议事决事的场所、社会教化的空间、公共仲裁的机构、民间俗信组织的中心、地方商业庇佑的象征以及本乡与外乡联结的纽带等,由此显示出珠江三角洲的社会结构与文化形态。

Since the Ming and Qing dynasties,Lingnan has become one of the areas where the worship of Zhenwu(Beidi,the Northern Emperor)prevails.Through an investigation and analysis of 31 Zhenwu temples and 97 stele inscriptions in the Pearl River Delta,this author discovers that after the Zhenwu belief settled in the Lingnan area,it not only maintained the essential culture of the Central Plains but also adjusted itself to the local cultures.Beidi temples have developed new cultural characteristics and played various social/cultural roles to meet the varied needs.In addition to being a place to host meetings and educational events,they also have many other functions and roles,including an organization of public adjudication,a center of folk belief groups,a symbol of local commercial protection,and a bond between the local and neighboring towns.This paper tries to reveal the social structure and cultural ecology of Lingnan at a deeper level.