Study On Xi’an City God Belief During The Ming Dynasty

The City God belief(worship for Chenghuang)is one of the most important part of folk belief.Its City God is the patron saint of citizens in city.In the Ming Dynasty,the government brings the City God belief into the state sacrificial system in order to consolidate the feudal rule,and bestows on the City God.Xi’an City God Temple,as one of the three best City God’s Temple in China,has high social status.It is also in charge of the underworld City in the northwest region.This paper analyses the relationship between the City God belief,government power and social order by connecting Xi’an City God belief and the Ming Dynasty background,understanding the characteristics of Xi’an City God belief,highlighting the important role and value of Xi’an City God belief in the Ming dynasty.This paper is divided into four parts to explore Xi’an City God belief during the Ming dynasty.The first part tells the main content and the social background on Xi’an City God belief in the Ming dynasty.By exploring for Cheng Huang,City God’s Temple and City God belief,this part gives the full range of understanding on such origin concepts.The second part,mainly discusses the characteristics of Xi’an City God belief during the Ming dynasty.This paper contrasts the difference degree of attention between Ming dynasty,the dynasty before Ming,the Southern China City God,Taiwan City God and other areas` City Gods,which differences of comparative analysis,obtains peculiarity of Xi’an City God belief in economic and political culture.The third part tells an overview social function of Xi’an City God belief in many aspects,including social function in the change of City God belief and economic function.The fourth part summarizes the contemporary ethics of tourism culture and other aspects of the enlightenment raised by the City God belief.During the Ming Dynasty,Xi’an City God belief provides a powerful force for national sovereignty,Stability and reconstruction of social order.