Research On The Belief In Guanyu And Its Regional Distribution In The Ming Dynasty

The Ming Dynasty is a key period both of the formation & development of the belief in Guanyu, and the construction & expansion of the Guanyu temples, during which the belief in Guanyu had penetrated through the whole society, while it took on extreme disparities in regional distribution. This article tries to reveal the characteristics of the belief in Guanyu of that time by having a dynamic grasp on the social stages of the belief in Guanyu and overall regional distribution of Guanyu temples. This thesis is divided into three parts: In part one, the author explores into the initial establishment of the belief in Guanyu or Guanyu worship before Ming, pointing out the process in which Guanyu, first in folklores, then being remodeled by Buddhism, Taoism and literature works, finally being recognized by the authorities and beyond the regional scope, became the nationwide deity. However, the belief in Guanyu just attained its initial establishment either by status or its temple distribution before Ming. In part two, the article gives another research into the social bases of the belief in Guanyu in Ming by analyzing the politics and thoughts, military activities, literature works and compiled stories of Guanyu, economy and society, etc. In part three, the writer probes into the regional disparity of the belief in Guanyu and the regional distribution of Guanyu temples. By reviewing the construction of Guanyu temples and the status of the belief in Guanyu among local religion system during Ming, this article points out three special features of the belief in Guanyu: the regional disparity, namely: the difference between North and South in national scope, the inner unbalance in the same region; the time disparity; and the disparity in disseminator, a case study of officials, soldiers and businessmen who introduced the belief in Guanyu into each region. In conclusion, the author reviews the main viewpoints of this article and indicates the status and effects of the belief in Guanyu in the whole process of the belief in Guanyu during Ming.