Southern Fujian Folk Culture And Chinese Society In Southeast Asia

Based on the chomgraphy,documents and some interview materials of the field investigations in Overseas Chinese district,this dissertation,referring to the research findings of sociology,anthropology and folklore,surveys the characteristics of folk culture in Southern Fujian during the period of Republic of China,analyzes the distinctive social structure and mentality of Chinese society in Southeast Asia and the interactions between them by adopting the traditional methods of narration history.From a perspective of culture,this paper tries to combine macroscopic thinking with case study, especially focusing on the visible and invisible culture types,such as folk customs and faiths,lifestyles and forms of organization.Taking the whole into consideration,but doing the job bit by bit,and then matter-of-fact conclusions can be obtained from precise analysis of concrete issues,mutual complementation and verification of the "micro-materials".The present research thereby contributes to more distinctly understanding the local cultural characteristics of Southern Fujiart,changes and their influences on Overseas Chinese society during the period of Republic China;in the meanwhile,it also outlined the cultural interplay between the two more clearly.This paper research demonstrated that,in the period of Republic of China,the material culture of Southern Fujian's folk culture has changed a lot,and its spiritual culture aslo improved by maintaining some local characteristics for the increase of emigrants and their connections with hometown.From these changes,from the synchronousness between the econimic power of Overseas Chinese and social status of the emigrant family,especially their consumptive function with the economy of Southeast Asia,we can easily conclude that the emigrants have significant influence.The field visit and dictation interview aslo verified this research.Otherwise,this paper expounded the customs,religious faiths and social organizational structure of the Chinese society in Southeast Asia by concrete cases.A comparative analysis to the hometown revealed the great isomorphism between them.This obviously displayed the great effects of local triditions on overseas Chinese,also reflect their incessant connection and interaction.In this mutual interaction between southern Fujian and Chinese society in Southeast Asia,we can see the compatibility,openness and attraction of Minnan's folk culture.Furthermore,they both derived nutritions from each other,and developed into new cultural ingredients in their circumstances,therby it aslo enriched their lives.