Taibo Cult and the Local Society in Jiangnan during Ming and Qing Dynasties——Based on the Investigation of Meili Taibo Temple in Wuxi
In Ming and Qing dynasties,Meili Taibo(梅里泰伯)Temple,as the central Daoist temple in Wuxi,gradually became a public space of power bargaining for local groups.Due to the strong support from local families and the active guidance from the local government,the cult of Taibo persisted throughout the Ming and Qing dynasties in Wuxi.After Hongzhi period of Ming Dynasty,through their donations to the temple,local families gained the right of appointing the abbot of the temple,as well as part of its management rights.Based on common interests of the cult,which was deeply rooted in Wuxi,a tight cooperation emerged between local grassroots social system and the government power system.Local officials and gentry have worked together to promote the Confucianization of the cult.These efforts were not only responses to the national policy of"shengdao shejiao(神道设教)",but also ways of strengthening local characteristics and enhancing regional cohesion,which were helpful to promote Wuxi's status in Jiangnan region,too.During the process of Taibo's transformation from a local deity in Wuxi to a regional deity in Jiangnan,the cult was closely related to the economy,politics,and culture of Jiangnan society in Ming and Qing dynasties.
Ming and Qing DynastiesTaibo CultGovernmentFamilyJiangnan Society
万方数据
