Analysis Of The Historical Changes Of Xiangguo Temple From The Folklore Perspective

Xiangguo Temple lies in the western part of the Ziyou Road in Kaifeng City, which has been the wealthiest place for emperors since ancient times. In history, it has bred up a large number of famous monks. It is in the place, with rich Tibetan canons, that celebrities have gathered together. In its heyday, it has commanded sixty-four Buddhists and Legal Institutes, which covers an area of 540 mu. Many eminent monks, officials, scholars, envoys and the publics access to it. Buddhist ceremonies, imperial tours of inspection, culture and entertainment, visits, commerce and trade have been undertaken here. So, it has been a socio-economic and cultural exchange centre for many times in history.Its original site is Wei Wuqi's private residence in the Warring States period. At the Northern Qi Dynasty, Jianguo Temple was built here. During the Tang dynasty, the eminent monk Hui Yun built a temple on in its ruins, which emperor Rui Zong bestowed Xiangguo Temple as a name. From the Five Dynasties to the Northern Song Dynasty, Kaifeng was the capital, with which Xiangguo Temple gained enormous development. It had more than 60 big or small courtyards, and about 400 palace hall houses, which became the most flourishing place of Dongjing. But in Jin, Yuan, Ming and Qing each dynasty, it was frequently destructed because the war was inevitable and fires occurred from time to time and floods happened more frequently due to its location at the south of the Yellow River. At Ming and Qing era, all its buildings were renovated. Although several generations of monarchs had repaired it, compared with the Northern Song Dynasty landscape, it was still difficult to show its old appearance, so Xiangguo Temple was on the wane step by step. Worst of all, during the Republic of China, it suffered from a disaster that Feng Yuxiang and his army destroyed the temple and expulsed monks. It is until the foundation of PRC that it was not ushered in the new. Now it has become one of the National AAAA level scenic spots and driven the Kaifeng tourism. In this piece of land, trade, culture and entertainment are also associated with its historical changes.On the historical chronology and background, this paper traces the trails of the temple fair which includes worship, economy and cultural entertainment. Its development can be divided into several stages taking the establishment of new China as a dividing line, the former is its historical changes, and the later is its today's changes. In history, Xiangguo Temple fair includes emperors' worship, economy, and cultural exchanges with foreign countries, architecture and the mural art, culture and entertainment. The temple fair can be explored from three periods- more than ten years before or after the establishment of People's Republic of China, the period of reform and opening up, from 1992 till now. In each period, a brief summary of the evaluation has been made at the end of the temple fair. Its customs scroll of all times can be depicted with available data. Finally, this paper sums up its general and unique characteristics and analyzes its evolution with the background of the timesThe article is divided into four partsPartâ… : Introduction. It explains the causes of writing, the general situation of Xiangguo Temple and the issues this article concerns.Partâ…¡: The temple fair in history. First of all, it ascertains the early construction of Xiangguo Temple. Then, it is about the temple fair in the Tang, Five Dynasties, Song, Yuan, Ming, Qing dynasty and the Republic of China, which mainly includes emperors' worship, economy, and cultural exchanges with foreign countries, architecture and the mural art, culture and entertainment. Partâ…¢: Today's temple fair. This part explores the temple fair from three periods- more than ten years before or after the establishment of People's Republic of China, the period of reform and opening up, from 1992 till now, outlines its construction, architecture and state since the founding of new China, makes a detailed investigation and record about its worship and expounds its cultural characteristics.Partâ…£: Conclusion. It sums up its general and unique characteristics and analyzes its evolution with the background of the times.