Observing the Religious Belief during the Ming and Qing Dynasties in Huanggang River Basin

Abstract

To properly demonstrate the transformation and uniqueness of local religions in Hanggang river valley, Raojing County, Guandong. This paper examines 62 pieces of inscriptions of Ming and Qing dynasties thoroughly. It contains 24 pieces of inscriptions related to the Buddhist temples and 38 pieces of inscriptions related to the folk religious temples. The exploration of inscriptions helps to elaborate and present the various religious and social matters in Raojing County of Ming and Qing dynasties. Enormous numbers of temples are located among the Hangang river valley during the Ming and Qing period. Through the inscriptions, huge among of historical, social and religious information have been recorded properly. Besides, the form and style of temples are diversified. For example, based on the setting and the founding history of the temple, monks or nuns can be in charge Buddhist temples, and the folk religious temples were managed by a local person who were voted by the local leaders. As the setting and the founding history of the temple is well recorded by the inscriptions, this helps to locate the donors, and also shows the amount of donation by each person, the donated items, the wishes of donors and the setting of various Buddhist temples clearly. These inscriptions shown the collaboration among the local government and the locale. This helps to examine the religious and social aspects in Huanggang river valley in the Ming and Qing dynasties. Apart from the folk religious temples, the religion of Chenghuang, Wenchang, Han Yu and Guan Di are ultimately important in Huanggang river valley. Folk believes that Chenghuang, Wenchang, Han Yu and Guan Di represents general fortune, outstanding academic excellence, virtuous literature ability and virtuous military leadership respectively. As a result, these historical figures are widely worshipped by the local individually, bility and virtuous martial power respectively. Different properties are well prepared by the influential local people spiritually. To present the transformation of local social and religious matters, the inscriptions will be discussed seriously. Through examine the appearance, transformation and maintenance of these temples, it helps to elaborate the influence and contributions of inscriptions in the history of Huanggang river valley.