| At the end of 19th century and the beginning of 20th century, Christianity was introduced into Ethnic minority areas in southwest China, some Han people and such minority groups as Miao, Lisu converted to Christianity one after another. When the Christianity was introduced into regions inhabited by Yi ethnic group, only a small number of Yi people have faith in Christianity, and the Christianity received strong boycott. In Zhaotong and other areas, Yi people ignited struggle against foreign religions. In Pan county of Guizhou province and Liangshan of Sichuan province, it's hard to spread Christianity in Yi ethnic group. When the Christianity was preached among Yi people, only a few of them converted to it, most of them didn't receive it. Both the believers and the unbelievers have their own reasons. This thesis begins with the point of view, conducts comparative analysis between Yi ethnic group's religious culture and Christian culture structurally, and discusses the structure Yi ethnic group's religious culture.Christianity was introduced into southwest China under the historical background of imperialist powers invading China, and the Christian mission carried intense colonization colors. The missionaries rely on imperialist powers for financial and material resources. Christian mission work in China was protected by unequal treaties and imperialist powers. Furthermore, the Christian mission work among Yi people was culture input and culture replacement, like selling commodities, i.e. to replace Yi ethnic group's religious culture with Christian culture. It's a challenge to Yi ethnic group's culture and a test for Yi ethnic group's religious culture.Yi ethnic group's religious culture is a belief system with ancestor worship as its core. Yi ethnic group is an agricultural people. Its social structure and family branches were born from clan society directly, with strong sense of family. Moreover, the long-term existence of family power intensified sense of family and ancestor worship of Yi ethnic group. The Bimol(毕摩)of Priest class served Yi ethnic group's religion for a long time, passed down Yi ethnic group's religious culture, stabilized ancestor worship of Yi people. Yi ancestors'knowledge of universe and world formed ancient natural philosophy of Yi people. They explained the origin of the world and life and the outlook on life and death, influencing Yi ethnic group's religious culture profoundly.Christianity originated from the area of Semites, a nomad. It's a typical monotheism, incompatible with ancestor worship and polytheism of Yi people. Christianity's perspective on the origin of the world, perception of people and the outlook on life and death were similar to myths of Yi people, but opposed to their Outlooks on Universe and Human Being and History of YI People in Southwest China. Christianity believes the God is the creator of everything, Yi people holds the view that everything is the result of evolution. In Christianity, human being was created by God, embodying God's ability and love. Yi people think that human being stemmed from living things. Ancestor worship is to commemorate ancestors and pray to the ancestors for safeness. In addition, Christianity and Yi people have contrary opinions on humanity, ethic morality and marriage.Therefore, Yi people have their own belief, priest—Bimo, outlook on universe, explain the universe, life, ethic morality, life, aging, illness and death naturally. It's not like creationism of Christianity. They are different from one another in way of thinking. Yi people have unique religion culture structure and ideology. Therefore, when the Christianity was introduced into Yi area, it can only wander at the gate of Yi ethnic group. |
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