The Study Of The Transformation Of Zitong: Functions And Figurations

In this dissertation, the author takes cultural analysis to study the complex relationship of folk belief and authority. I try to study the case of Zitong and picture the development of people's memories. Then readers can find the track of folk belief. In the very early times, the worship of stars became an important part of primitive religious. The god had been related to stars belief. Then, it is said that Zhang Yazi is the preexistence of the god. He is brave and courageous in battles. After he died, people built a temple to commemorate him. I managed to analyze the story of Zhang Yazi and social background. Through Zhang Yazi did not leave any words or materials, it related to Zitong, which became to different then. Zitong, later to become Wenchang, a god with close ties to the civil service examinations, was originally from Zitong country, Sichuan. And the god became to a culture god of country. Along with the social development, the meaning of the symbol of Zitong had been changed. In the ancient literatures, it gave directions to people via various ways . In fact, it had more functions, such as the god who give birth to a child, health god, and evil killer and so on. As for Zitong given tasks, its fundamental function was benefit with people by means of dreams. Later, the government took many ways to lead folk belief. People combined the faith of the god with national god.For the development of Zitong worship, it should be taken in consideration that the flourish of Taoism and the development of economy. And the most important reason...