清代一炷香教的跪香療法

一炷香教係清代初期崛起於華北、東北地區的民間秘密教派，該教師傅擅於藉由燒香、跪拜的宗教療法為患者治病，並藉機傳教收徒。此療法的進行方式頗為簡易，先是該教師傅以患者身體某個疼痛部位附會其德行缺失，做為病因解釋，故患者須懺悔其罪行才能治癒疾病。之後患者須依教內宗教儀式，在神像或神位面前持香磕頭、誦念咒語、虔誠懺悔，並由師傅代為禱祝，祈求神明護佑，如此即算完成治病程序。該教跪香療法過程雖屬簡易，但仍能發揮某種程度療效，因患者透過燒香、跪拜儀式中，不但可以活動筯骨，並感受其間的宗教氣息，進而產生願力，使其身心獲得平衡，有益於治癒疾病。總之，該教師傅以燒香、跪拜方式做為治病手段，的確為平民百姓提供一條求醫稱便、醫程簡易、費用節省、尚具療效的醫療途徑，使其願意嘗試求醫、進而拜師習教，對其教派擴展甚具影響。

關鍵字

一炷香教；民間秘密宗教；醫療傳教；民俗醫療；跪香療法

並列摘要

I-Chu-Hsiang (Single Stick of Incense) Sect was one of the most important folk secret religious sects, and it flourished in north China during the early Ch'ing period. The masters of the sect cured the disease of the patients by religious treatment of burning joss sticks and kowtowing, and persuaded them to anticipate the sect. The course of treatment was convenient and simple. First, the masters of the sect explained the cause of disease of the patients to depend on their faults of behavior. In order to recover the health of the patients, they should confess their faults. The patients would follow the religious rite of the sect, burned joss sticks, kowtowed themselves in front of the deity statures or boards, recited incantations, and confessed their faults piously. The masters of the sect prayed blessing to the deity for the patients. Although the course of the treatment looked easy, it still could take curative effect. When the patients followed the rite of burning joss sticks and kowtowing, they could not only exercise their bones and muscles, but also could infect the atmosphere of religion to produce the strength of faith. According to the process of rite, the patients could get physical and mental balance, and it was beneficial to cure disease. In short, the masters of the sect cured the patients by burning joss sticks and kowtowing, offered the convenient, cheap and effective medical treatment for common people, attracted them to heal, pushed them to join the sect, and it could make effect for the development of the sect.