The Spiritual World of a Hakka Village

客家村莊的精神世界

柯雪潤(Sharon A. Carstens)

《台灣東南亞學刊》 4卷1期 (2007/04) Pp. 29-63

https://doi.org/10.7039/TJSAST.200704.0029

摘要

這篇論文檢視了客家籍馬來西亞社區在布賴的精神信仰和習俗，焦點放在神明的祠堂、英靈崇拜及平慰；在神明的力量及影響力之下的地方信仰體制、個人及家族隨著時光重現與改變過的風俗；不同於我前一篇較強調布賴在地宗教習俗之社會要素的文章，在此我的目標是探索宇宙哲學、世界觀，以及在客家村莊宗教習俗中所傳遞的涵義體系。 正如許多華人社區一樣，在布賴，人們敬奉的神靈自不在少數。最常見的地方守護神，在村裡供觀音娘娘的廟中亦佔有一席之地：前壇供的是媽祖，在此地稱為「媽娘」，以三姐妹的形象示人；家畜的守護神「叔頗大」；關帝爺、客家雨神「譚公爺」、還有地方守護神「大伯公」。在陰曆二月，為期九日的觀音誕辰慶典中，其他被請出來安奉的神明、英靈還包括「天公」，掌理天界之神；水神「水德仙君」；兩位馬來神明「拿督公」(laduk)，當地的土地神；一位慶典的神，以及在保衛鄉土時犧牲的無名英靈等等。家族中，供奉祖先牌位的神壇也常一道供奉觀音、媽娘、關聖帝君、財神爺等。百姓也會祭拜灶君，廚房中的爐灶之神，土地公；在某些家庭聚會場合也會祭拜天公。最後，一本由廟祝手寫的冊子，寫著對諸神的祈願－不僅僅對觀音和其他廟宇中的神明，同時也對龍神、大歲（星辰之神）、南斗北斗（南北兩極星宿）、濟公、哪吒、濟天等－祈福。 這份論文的第一節為諸神靈的獨特性作了審視，包括布賴的多神廟，並簡要敘述了祂們如何成為鄉裡聚落的崇拜對象。第二節探索地方信仰的力量，是藉著傳奇故事流傳英靈們的豐功偉業、與鄉民的互動等，歷久不衰。第三節為布賴的精神信仰在時空中定位，並探討當地心靈習俗與信仰的轉變，如何幫助布賴居民的下一代面對日新月異的世界。

關鍵字

民間信仰 ； 宇宙哲學 ； 宗教信仰 ； 儀式的改變

並列摘要

This paper examines spiritual beliefs and practices in the Hakka Malaysian community of Pulai, focusing on the pantheon of deities and spirits worshipped and propitiated; the system of local beliefs in the power and efficacy of these deities; and the manner in which individuals and families have reproduced and altered these spiritual beliefs over time. Unlike my previous writings about religion in Pulai, which have emphasized the sociological components of local religion practices, my goal here is to explore the cosmological system, world view, and system of meanings conveyed through religious practices in this Hakka village.
As with many Chinese communities, the list of spirits who are propitiated in Pulai is rather lengthy. The most visible community deities are those with permanent places in the village temple dedicated to Guanyin (觀音) where the front altar also includes Mazu (媽祖) known locally as Maniang (媽娘) and represented as three sisters; Shupoda (叔頗大), who cares for domestic animals; Guandi (關帝); Tangongye (譚公爺), a Hakka rain deity; Dabogong (大伯公), a territorial spirit; and Caishen (財神) Wealth God. During the nine day annual Guanyin birthday celebration in the second lunar month, additional deities and spirits who are propitiated include Tiangong (天公), the God of Heaven; Shuidexianjun (水德仙君), a water spirit; two Malay laduk (拿督公), local earth spirits; a 'festivity' shen (神); and the unnamed spirits of men who died protecting the community. Ancestors are worshipped in family homes on altars that often include other deities such as Guanyin, Maniang, Guandi, or Caishen. Families also propitiate Zaojun (灶君), the Stove God, in their kitchens, and Tudigong (土地公), the Earth God, and Tiangong in appropriate domestic locations. Finally a handwritten book of temple prayers includes petitions not only to Guanyin and other temple deities, but also to Longshen (龍神), Dragon God; Dasui (大歲), a star deity; Nandou, Beidou (南斗北斗), South and North Pole Stars; Jigong (濟公); Nazha (哪吒); and Jitian (濟天).
The first section of this paper examines the unique characteristics of the spirits included in the Pulai pantheon, and describes briefly how they came to be worshipped in the community. The second section explores local beliefs in the powers of these spirits conveyed through stories of their actions and interactions with community members over time. The paper's third section situates Pulai spiritual beliefs in time
and space, and discusses how shifts in local spiritual practices and beliefs have helped new generations of Pulai residents respond to a changing world.

並列關鍵字

Popular religion ； Cosmology ； Religious belief ； Ritual change

參考文獻

Ahern, Emily,Margery Wolf,Roxane Witke (eds.)(1975).Women in Chinese Society.Stanford:Stanford University Press.

Aijmer, Goran(1968).Being Caught by a Fishnet: On Fengshui in Southeastern China.Journal Royal Asiatic Society Hong Kong Branch.8,74-81.

Ackerman, Susan,Raymond Lee(1988).Heaven in Transition: Non-Muslim Religious Innovation and Ethnic Identity in Malaysia.Honolulu:University of Hawaii Press.

Bagyalakshmi,Tan Chung(ed.)(1998).Across the Himilayan Gap: An Indian Quest for Understand China.New Delhi:Indira Gandhi National Center for the Arts.

Baptandier, Brigitte,Meir Shahar,Robert P. Weller (eds.)(1996).Unruly Gods: Divinity and Society in China.Honolulu:University of Hawaii Press.