| Since modern times,the folk beliefs with God worship as the core had been very prosperous in Suzhou.The objects of folk beliefs in Suzhou were composed of Zhengsi gods,Sisi gods and Yinsi gods,and show four characteristics:complexity,utilitarian,alien and local.Facing the prosperous folk beliefs in Suzhou,the modern political power adopted different governance methods,local elites and ordinary people also showed different attitudes.During the period of the late Qing government,in the face of the prosperous folk beliefs in Suzhou,the political power was dominated by utilization and supplemented by constraint.Firstly,due to the implementation of local education,strengthening the legitimacy and authority of the political power,stabilizing and winning over the people,and solving the problems of funds and venues for the new deal,the political power utilized the gods,space and funds of folk beliefs;Secondly,due to maintaining national security and social stability,maintaining the original intention of setting up religion,saving people’s money and correcting social customs,the political power constrained the gods,space,rituals,customs and practitioners of folk beliefs.Local elites mainly abide by and supplemented by criticism.Firstly,due to the influence of local customs,the multiple functions of folk beliefs,social responsibilities and consolidating social status,they abide by the gods,space and customs of folk beliefs;Secondly,due to the influence of Confucian classics,the influence of national sacrificial policy and the disadvantages of folk beliefs,they criticized the phenomenon of folk violation of sacrificial rites and the customs of folk beliefs.Due to the influence of local customs,low level of knowledge,frequent disasters and multiple functions of folk beliefs,ordinary people believe in the gods and customs of folk beliefs.During the period of the Beiyang Government,in the face of the prosperous folk beliefs in Suzhou,the political power utilized and constrained went hand in hand.On the one hand,due to the implementation of local education,strengthening the authority of political power,stabilizing and winning over the people,the influence of tradition,the political power utilized the gods and space of folk beliefs;On the other hand,due to maintaining social stability,saving people’s money,protecting the life safety of ordinary people and building a modern political power,the political power constrained the time rhythm,customs and practitioners of folk beliefs.Local elites mainly abide by and criticize,supplemented by understand and break.Firstly,due to the influence of local customs,the influence of traditional culture,the influence of the current situation and the multiple functions of folk beliefs,they abide by the gods,space and customs of folk beliefs;Secondly,due to the influence of Confucian classics,the influence of national sacrificial policy,the progress of the times,the influence of the national character transformation movement and the disadvantages of folk beliefs,they criticized the phenomenon of folk violation of sacrificial rites and the customs of folk beliefs;Thirdly,due to the influence of local customs and the rise of folk literature movement,they understand the reasons for the official and folk to carry out folk belief activities,the multiple functions of folk beliefs and the restrictive factors for the holding of folk belief activities;Finally,they put forward two ways to break folk beliefs,were improving the social assistance system and popularizing common sense.Due to the influence of local customs,low level of knowledge,frequent disasters and multiple functions of folk beliefs,ordinary people adhere to the gods and customs of folk beliefs.In the early stage of the Nanjing National Government,in the face of the prosperous folk beliefs in Suzhou,the political power was dominated by constraint and supplemented by utilization.Firstly,due to maintaining social stability,saving people’s money and building a modern political power,the political power constrained the time rhythm,gods,space,customs,practitioners and goods of folk beliefs;Secondly,due to the implementation of local education and strengthening the authority of political power,the political power utilized the gods and space of folk beliefs.Local elites mainly criticize and break,supplemented by abide by and understand.Firstly,due to the influence of Confucian classics,the progress of the times,the influence of the current situation and the disadvantages of folk beliefs,they criticized the phenomenon of folk violation of sacrificial rites,the space and customs of folk beliefs;Secondly,they put forward five ways to break folk beliefs,were improving the social assistance system,setting up entertainment places,improving the knowledge level of ordinary people,and urging the government to ban and improving folk beliefs;Thirdly,due to the influence of local customs,the guidance of official policies,the influence of the current situation and the multiple functions of folk beliefs,they abide by the gods,spaces,customs and goods of folk beliefs;Finally,due to the influence of local customs,the continuation of folk literature movement and the development of rural construction movement,they understand the reasons for ordinary people carry out folk belief activities and the multiple functions of folk beliefs.Due to the influence of local customs,low level of knowledge,frequent disasters and multiple functions of folk beliefs,ordinary people stick to the gods and customs of folk beliefs.Since modern times,the regime’s governance of folk beliefs in Suzhou and the attitudes of local elites and ordinary people towards folk beliefs in Suzhou had changed to varying degrees.The political power had changed from dominated by utilization to dominated by constraint,the local elites in Suzhou had changed from dominated by abide by to dominated by criticize and break,the ordinary people in Suzhou had changed from believe in to adhere to.In the field of folk beliefs,the consistency and differences between the modern political power and Suzhou local society had produced interaction and conflict.This further shows that,at least in the field of folk beliefs,the control of modern political power is not in an absolute dominant position,and Suzhou local society had a certain autonomy. |
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