Study On Festivals Of The Pre-qin Period

Festival as a sort of folklore items inherits legend, taboo, ritual and knowledge of ethnic group/nation, and maintains mutual affection between people. Festival attached to folklore culture originated in the pre-Qin period from which Chinese culture, thought, character, systems stemmed. Because pre-Qin festivals was in developing era of culture, the amount of pre-Qin period festivals is much less than aftertime, of which are Sheri Festival (社日节,the god of land festival), Lari Festival (蜡日节, the day of sacrifice in a year's ending), Shangsi Festival (上巳节), and festivals in formation such as Nian Festival (年节,the day for harvest or a new year), the Dragon Boat Festival (端午节) etc. The pre-Qin festivals still preserve festivals'original form, of which origin that relates to couples of facets ranging from time and season, worship of gods and ancestors to magic, superstition has close association with astronomy, calendar and sacrifice activity. The sacrifice, celebration and other activities of pre-Qin festivals unveil common people's daily lives from perspective of folklore, by which social scene in the pre-Qin period could be observed. Activities in which men and women engaged in festivals and its certain meaning could reflect discrepancy of social roles and status between men and women. The thesis focuses on pre-Qin festivals, whose origin, contents and features are investigated. Social roles differences between men and women in festivals, as well as pre-Qin festivals'effect on ethnic groups'fusion and its inborn social functions are analyzed in detail.This thesis consists of three parts in framework: introduction, the main parts (comprising four chapters) and conclusion.Introduction: The research summary of the thesis. In this part, different understanding of festival between the East and West are analyzed, and purpose, methods and significance of research are also well explained.The First Chapter: The reason for pre-Qin festivals'formation. Pre-Qin festivals'formation is set forth from several aspects, such as ancient calendar's formation, change of people's cognition, superstition, taboo, magic, primitive worship, relation between festival and agriculture. Accordingly, the conclusion that pre-Qin festivals are all that relating to solar terms and seasons is worked out.The Second Chapter: The introduction of three main festivals in pre-Qin period——Sheri Festival, Lari Festival, and Shangsi Festival, and festivals in formation——the Dragon Boat Festival and Nian Festival. The scene of social and people in pre-Qin period is exhibited by introducing the festivals, and importance of pre-Qin festivals is revealed.The Third Chapter: The discussion on division of labour of men and women in pre-Qin festivals. Many efforts have been made to illuminate the discrepancy between men and women from festival ritual and festival content points of view. Influence on the development of men and women's status imposed by festival factors will be found out as well.The Fourth Chapter: The analysis on pre-Qin festivals'social function. Festival comes forth as a result of social needs, and correspondingly, it exerts great influence on social development and people's daily lives. This chapter discusses festivals'social functions by exploring the issues of pre-Qin festivals and formation of Chinese community, social control, people civilizing and recreation, thereby, displays political function and the transition of festivals'connotation.Conclusion: To summarize various functions of pre-Qin festivals and talk about some enlightenment for social and cultural development nowadays.