Social Memory And Historical Representation

Nong Zhigao is a historical figure in Song Dynasty when we open relevant historical documents. He has been drawn close attention of every dynasty because he was the leader of the rebel against Jiaozhi and Song Dynasty, and no conclusion could be drawn about the different views as to how to pass equitable judgement on him. Even some contemporary scholars'comments are a mixture of praise and stricture.The available achievements in social scientific research are essentially to find out the "truth" in Nong Zhigao's event.Their researches are mainly concerned with those problems of when Nong Zhigao was born; what his nationality was; where he went after the rebel had been defeated; what kind of nature and historic significance Nong Zhigao's revolt is, and whether Nong Zhigao was a national hero or a "rebel" etc. They all try to draw a final conclusion to Nong Zhigao's event.The purpose of this study is not to involve in these disputes, or aim to provide some better viewpoint on the relevant problems about Nong Zhigao, or to provide solutions to chaotic situation on recognization of Nong Zhigao that elites of the Zhuang nationality face; or provide value judgement of value on Nong Zhigao's event. It is to present how Nong Zhigao's event was reflected on people's daily life and social memory. This paper will advance that the viewpoints that researchers have on Nong Zhigao should return to the native's viewpoint, and understand how local residents think of the historic figure of Nong Zhigao and the historic event of rebellion, in which he fight against Song Dynasty. Only when Nong Zhigao's event is put into specific historic process and space, can we explain the whole thing.For the angle of viewpoint, this study adopts the approach between margin and centre, synchronic and diachronic. As for the methodology, it follows the way of historic anthropology. Taking the angle to look at the centre from margin, I choose Maguan county, Wenshan Zhuang and Miao nationality autonomous prefecture, Yunnan province as my study target, particularly Masa village as my primary fieldwork site. In addition, I adopt method of participant's observation and deep interview of anthropologic fieldwork and historic anthropology. I especially investigate the Maguan county Zhuang people's memory about Nong Zhigao's event and their commemorative ritual in detail, and at the same time attach importance to collecting ancient literature and local records of Nong Zhigao's event. These study approaches and methods may be considered one of innovation of this study.The primary concern of this study is to observe the influence of Nong Zhigao's event on local residents in Maguan county from two aspects: practice and expression. These two aspects of the research are carried out under the theoretical relation of social memory and historicity.Masa people's historicity is mainly represented on hero's conception of history, practical history and elder men's historical expressive power. These three aspects of historicity influence people's social memory and historical expression about Nong Zhigao's event.The annual Liuyuejie ritual is the ritual practice with which Masa people and other Zhuang people in Maguan county commemorate Nong Zhigao. The details of ritual have close connections with people's memory about Nong Zhigao. The making colorful glutinous rice on Liuyuejie ritual and the detail situation of honoring Nong Zhigao have their symbolic significance. The historicity of hero's conduces they endeavor makes them trace their ancestors back to be Nong Zhigao's soldiers, and Nong Zhigao became a protective deity and was moved to altar for honor. They expect Nong Zhigao can bring welfare and good health to themselves, and by doing so, Masa people has brought Nong Zhigao into their belief system. The elder men's historical expressive power reflects that local elites have dominant function on constructing social memory of Nong Zhigao's event.On the aspect of expressing Nong Zhigao's event, this study finds, in Maguan county, the local people's expressions on Nong Zhigao's event related toYang Liulang——a historical figure. Liulangjie ritual of Maguan county inZhuang nationality's memory is a reflection of benign inter-communion between Nong people of the Zhuang and Han nationality in Ming and Qing Dydnsty. Commemorating Yang Liulang embodies Nong people of the Zhuang'sappreciation of the Han------the benefactor; The memory of "Liulang ghost"reflects the historical reality that Han nationality insanely massacre the Zhuang people in the period of Republic of China; Now the fact that Nong Zhigao is regarded as "a national hero" reflects Zhuang nationality status has advanced in the modern nation state. Zhuang nationality has got a chance to express the proper pride of their own nationality. At the same time, Yang Liulang acted as "image" of Han nationality has disappearde gradually from people's memory. So Nong Zhigao wasn't a national hero from the beginning of the event, and today's reality about his image has something to do with the specific historic context and geographical environment. In different Zhuang nationality's areas, there are different expressions about Nong Zhigao's event.Most scholars acknowledge that the process of forming social memory is a process of social construction. This study will point out that the content of social memory have close relationship with historicity, that is, the historicity type will guide people what to memorize about the past. People present their historicity from practicing and expressing social memory, and at the same time, historicity influences their manner of social memory. Thus we must take historicity into consideration when we study social memory. Moreover, only when we put social memory back into some specific historical process, can we explain logically social memories of different editions.In the end, this study's significance consist in offering a new angle of view and stream of thoughts for understanding Nong Zhigao's event, and expands our sight into Nong Zhigao and other controversial people in the past. In addition, this study also provides a new case for the study of social memory as well.