The Relationship Between Folk Belief And Social Economy In Quanzhou Of Yuan Dynasty

After the significant change in the regime of Quanzhou in Yuan dynasty and Han ethnic people's social ruling is overthrown by the Mongolians, what comes along is a series of social changes and reforms. What reflects the social condition most is the changes in sacrifices? The fact that Mongolian officials enjoy sacrifices after death is enough to demonstrate the characteristics of the society fabric of Quanzhou in Yuan dynasty.The port of Quanzhou is the main port through which Yuan government develops foreign trade, which is an effective way of promoting Quanzhou economy. It not only provides sustained impetus for Quanzhou economy and becomes a strip connecting Quanzhou city center and its surrounding economic hinterlands. The county fairs widely scattered in Quanzhou area and near the hinterlands become the bridge for the farmers and handicraftsmen to communicate with the outside world. Foreign religion is spread to the folk society through these fairs. The circle of belief in Goddess Matsu of the Sea is enlarged with the development of county fairs, leading to changes in sacrifice activities related to sailing. The statuses of Emperor Chen-wu the God of Sea and King Tong-yuan the God of Wind are gradually replaced by Goddess Matsu of the Sea.Belief in deities provides the public with a sort of psychological comfort in the face of emergency and dangers, while at the same time acts as sanction against the public behavior. It enables people to observe principle of good faith in commercial trade and guarantees the effective operation of economy as a result. However, disputes are inevitable in the course of economic activities. As a mechanism of settling disputes in the folk society, ordeal system plays an important role of social adjustment. It is possible that ordeal and verdict of god are popularly used in settling disputes in commercial process in Quanzhou of Yuan dynasty. In contrast with the system of judgment by the government authority, divine judgment costs less and has a higher efficiency.Via the analysis of the interactive relationship among folk belief, politics and economy in Quanzhou of Yuan dynasty, it is concluded that changes in deity belief are the strong and subtle manifestation of the changes in economic development and fabric of society. With the progress of economy and society, religion changes in traditions while reserving part of them during of the process.