The Study Of The Belief Culture Of The Temple Fair In Nanjing

The worship of Mazu was originated in Putian, a coastal city of Fujian Province in Southeast China, which can trace back to the Song dynasty. Throughout the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasty as well as period of the Republic of China, it developed continuously. With efforts of spreading and promoting, it has become one of the important nationwide folk beliefs. In 2009, Mazu Custom was included in the Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection List by UNESCO and became China's first belief custom type intangible cultural heritage. So far, there are about two million believers of Mazu.Built in Yongle five year (1407) of Ming dynasty, Nanjing Tianfei Gong was destroyed during anti-Japanese war, and it was rebuilt in 2005. As one of the first batch of recommended items of the intangible cultural heritage list of Nanjing, Mazu temple fair is of great significance in advancing the peaceful development of Taiwan and Mainland relations. Since its restoration, the temple fair has undergone many changes. A study of the temple fair culture from the perspectives of the deity worship, the worshipers, the changes of worshiping activities and the underlying cultural connotation can make more people better understand Nanjing Tianfei temple fair culture and traditional custom.This thesis is divided into six parts:The first chapter introduces the studies' origins and significance, as well as the domestic and foreign research and research methods and theories and other related content; The natural environment, human environment of Nanjing Tianfei temple fair are introduced in the second chapter; The third chapter will introduce the deity worship, history, organization and management of Tianfei temple fair. In addition, a simple description of the temple in Meizhou Island to compare; the fourth chapter discusses temple fair believers' structure and characteristics; The fifth chapter will explore the symbolic meanings behind the temple fair ritual activities, through observation, discussion and participation of the temple fair, the author will shed some light on the interaction relationships between people and people, between people and deity, between deity and deity, which can further expound its rich symbolic implications; The last chapter will point out the relationship between faith and social life. As a temple fair organized by the authority, Nanjing Tianfei temple fair has its own distinctiveness. Through elaboration, the interaction relationship with social life as well as its cultural connotation will be interpreted. Finally, according to the basic situation of Tianfei temple fair, the transition of beliefs cultural characteristics will be pointed out.The study of the religious culture of Nanjing Tianfei temple fair will provide new ways to facilitate the development of the temple in the city, promote the traditional culture inheritance, research as well as innovation in modern society. Therefore, it is very important for us to research the belief culture of Nanjing Tianfei Gong and it is worthy of further study.