A Study On The Zhong Kui Faith During The Tang And Song Dynasties

In Chinese folk belief, Zhong Kui is the folk deity who lustrates the severe disease and prays for happiness.In the legends, Zhong Kui is a Chin-Shih who did not pass the Imperial Examinations at that time.In the folk customs, Zhong Kui is also a protagonist of the Beggar Nuo.The factors of Witches and Wizards,Mrs Fangxiang and others in the ancient Nuo Mask Rituals are foundations which engender Zhong Kui Faith.About the research of Zhong Kui Faith, though scholar got certain achievements, there are some themes to discuss moreover.This dissertation observes Zhong Kui Faith between the Tang and Song Dynasties as the research object, trying to investigate the origin and transformation of Zhong Kui Faith from the religious consciousness, folk beliefs, official religion and other aspects.Through collection and analysis of the material, this dissertation explores the history of Zhong Kui, as well as the process of evolution and development track of Zhong Kui Faith in the Tang and Song dynasties.Zhong Kui Faith appeared before Zhong Kui legends possibly. The appearance of the Zhong Kui is influenced not only by unitary factor, but also by many other folk belief such as witch sorcerer, judge, and Mrs Fangxiang in exorcising ceremony.It was the result of the movement of making the folk-god among the people.It also influences other factors such as the dramas, the legends.Many people name with Zhong Kui early in the Northern and Southern Dynasties. Althongh the story about Zhong Kui is few, but widespread. Since the Tang Dynasty, its deeds were appeared in the novels, Dunhuang texts, poems, jokes, dramas, Huapu even in the medical books. Also Zhong Kui is the favorite subject matter of literati and folk artist.The article is mainly divided into three parts:Zhong Kui legends and its origin, Zhong Kui Faith during the Tang and Five-Dynasty, Zhong Kui Faith in Song Dynasty. The article mainly talks about the origin of Zhong Kui legend and the faith of Zhong Kui during the Tang and Song Dynasties, as well as the interrelationship between them. The introduction mainly make a simple description of the research and the concepts of Zhong Kui.The first part discusses the original legend of Zhong Kui. Main proper vetting from the origin of the word "Zhong Kui ", as witch sorcerer as a point, it discusses the problems of Zhong Kui prototype in detail. So Zhong Kui is not existed in history. The ghost’s image which had being got rid of in Zhong Kui images also reflected the evolution of the ideas of the Chinese ghosts. So whether the people of Zhong Kui or its judge identity in the legend, should be the performance of the public in religion. It was the the result of the development of Nuo.The first part discusses the original legend of Zhong Kui. Main proper vetting from the origin of the word "Zhong Kui ", as witch sorcerer as a point, it discusses the problems of Zhong Kui prototype in detail. So Zhong Kui is not existed in history.The ghost"s image which had being got rid of in Zhong Kui images also reflect the evolution of the ideas of the Chinese ghosts. So whether the people of Zhong Kui or its judge identity in the legend, should be the performance of the public in religion. It was the the result of the development of Nuo.The second part discusses Zhong Kui Faith between the Tang and Five-Dynasty. The author illustrates three periods:the Wei and Jin Dynasty、the Tang Dynasty、the Five-Dynasty. From the "Tai Shang Dong Yuan Shen Zhou Jing", Zhong Kui was a demon-quelling in the Wei and Jin Dynasty. People named with Zhong Kui only took its meaning of demon-quelling. The first appearance of Zhong Kui images was in the present which emperor awarded officials. The purpose of these images were holden oc the door to drive out ghost. Zhong Kui legend was appeared in the late Tang Dynasty. It is the "Zhong Kui dance". The main body of legend included:Zhong Kui appeared in Li Long-ji’s dream, the disease ghost caused trouble, Zhong Kui caught disease ghost and eaten it, Wu Dao-zi painted the image of Zhong Kui. It is a continuation of Zhong Kui Faith in the Wei and Jin Dynasties. Literati painter painted Zhong Kui images was no longer limited to the legend of catching ghost in the Five-Dynasty. They expanded to People’s daily life With the story of the Zhong Kui legend completely, such as Zhong Kui’ sister, small kids dance with Zhong Kui lightly.The third part of the literati mainly analysis the Zhong Kui in Song Dynasty. Through the summary of the materials, this part discusses the improvement of Zhong Kui Faith in the song dynasty. From the "Meng Xi Bi Tan","Shi Wu Ji Yuan", and "Tian Zhong Ji", Zhong Kui legend was maded in the plot to perfect, derived the first opera "Zhong kui Cuan". That is to say, Zhong Kui Faith has been popular in the street during the Song dynasty.Zhong Kui is a legendary personage, as a ghost, a people or a Chinese deity. He is the product of development of Nuo rituals. But a religion wants to form and continue, must has the support of the myths and legends. Zhong Kui Faith is changing in the history inheritance, from the Chinese deity in the Nuo Rituals to the god of the folk beliefs.