Temple And Village Identity In Rural Social Change

Since the20th century, Chinese country has experienced enormous social change from the traditional rural society to the revolution and collectivization country in the construction of new China, and to the "new countryside" in the context of current policy. To a certain extent, the temple has reflected the changes in rural society. If you go into a deeper level of the meaning of temple, You will find its significance of village identity expect of faith and power organizationThis article discussed the way of village identity at the base of the field work at village X in Jinzhong and with the main line of the changes of rural society and temple. The first chaper is the literature review about the key words——temple, the village changes and the village identity. Chapter Ⅱ showed the village narrative and the changes of temple at the period of traditional and collectivization era of village X before1964. The way of village identity changed from the blood and geopolitical edge to political authority. In the Chapter Ⅲ, the temple revived, and the collective superiority sense of the previous coal era continued at the support of the village-run coal mine from1984to2000. The village identity is formed at the base of public affairs prosperity. Chapter Ⅳ discuss the awkward position of village X after2000which is no coal era. The existence of temple showed the villagers’needs and fantasy of village identity.Village X is a typical country of Shanxi. Clans and village beliefs is intact in traditional period. The village experienced a brilliant time because of the "Dazhai" at collectivization era. The temple revived and the village prestige continued relying on coal resources after reformation. With the collapse of coal mine and the impact of modernization, the villagers are caught between "economic rationality" and "emotional identification".