Market Town And Civil Beliefs: Centering On West Fujian In Late Qing Dynasty And The Republic Of China (1912-1949)

Centering on west Fujian Province in late Qing Dynasty and the Republic ofChina(1912-1949), this paper analyzes market town and civil beliefs using method ofhistorical anthropology. Viewing: 1. The variety and development degrees of civil beliefsin market town of west Fujian Province were caused by comprehensive functions ofseveral factors as rural markets scale, patriarchal clan composition, rural marketspositions, goods flow direction, dualism of rural markets, influence of major sumames atrural sites, village beliefs of rural surroundings, etc. 2. The divinity activities in ruralmarkets reflected the local regional features. At Anyuan Market of Ninghua County, 6large divinity activities every year reflected that Anyuan Market had large floatingpopulation and frequent goods transactions; on social composition the number of minorsumames and weak clans was much more than that of major surnames and strong clans;agriculture and commerce were predominant public living manners; on local affairsregional factors and business factors played more important roles than blood relationships.3. The two powers of country and region often simultaneously existed in civil beliefs atrural sites: in cause of Yigong belief at Helong Village, Ninghua County, the countrypower and regional power were almost in same step; the expansion of Yigong belief wasinfluenced by official promotion, extension of economic associations, promotion bymarriage relationships, spreading of patriarchal clan transferring, and requirement forcomforting the worried minds of villagers. In this course regional power took the leadingposition, while the country also played a very important role.