「王爺信仰」、「媽祖信仰」近年來成為國內無形文化保存中最蓬勃活躍的兩大主題,譬如在至今為止獲國家指定的17項重要民俗之中,即有「西港刈香」、「東港迎王平安祭典」、「南鯤鯓代天府五府千歲進香期」三項屬於王爺信仰的文化資產。另一方面,「北港朝天宮迎媽祖」「大甲媽祖遶境進香」「白沙屯媽祖進香」這三項文化資產則屬於媽祖信仰的文化表現,顯示與信仰有關的文化資產呈現的重要性。不過在此可發現,這些文化資產登錄、指定皆未採用「信仰」一詞,而是直接將該信仰呈現的重要祭典行為如此文化表現做為文化資產名稱,這樣的指定登錄做法是今日通用的做法。不過,在近年所推動的非物質文化遺產12項潛力點中,卻出現「王爺信仰」、「媽祖信仰」分別採以「信仰」為名,如此申報案例的名稱與概念,檢視目前聯合國教科文組織UNESCO已登錄的364項,僅見中國於2009年入選的「媽祖信仰與習俗(Mazu belief and customs)」。其他獲登錄的各國無形文化遺產也多與宗教信仰有關,但是登錄的名稱著重於具體的文化表現,譬如日本「奧能登的稻神祭」、越南「扶董鄉與扶董鄉與朔山祠的天王節」、或是比利時「布魯日城的聖血遊行」等,尚未出現直接採以「信仰」為名的登錄做法。本論著眼於抽象概念的「信仰」該如何成為文化保護對象這樣的問題,透過國內現今正如火如荼推動「王爺信仰」非物質文化遺產潛力點的思維,以及即將展開的「臺灣王爺信仰文化資產3年守護計畫」等動向,分析「信仰」作為無形文化遺產申報與保護對象的各種問題。同時,也將從無形文化遺產在「美食」、「祭典」等遺產保護現況的掌握,探討現今文化遺產申報的趨勢與方向,從中檢討信仰成為無形文化遺產的可能。
Taiwan's recent push for inclusion on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list shows that Wangye Belief and Mazu Belief have been declared as beliefs in both name and concept. Upon inspecting UNESCO's 364 currently registered articles, one finds that only China's"Mazu Belief and Customs" was selected as such in 2009. There are numerous other countries', elements that have been inscribed on the Intangible Cultural Heritage list, such as Japan's"Oku-Noto no Aenokoto", Vietnam's"Gióng Festival of Phù Ðông and Sóc Temples", and Belgium's "Procession of the Holy Blood in Bruges". However, none of these have been named as "beliefs". This essay looks at how the abstract concept of "belief" can become a culturally protected object through the recent national promotion of"Wangye Belief" as such being intangible cultural heritage. The forthcoming "Taiwan Wangye Belief Cultural Capital 3-year Defence Plan", and other trends, examine the problems of declaring"belief"as a protected object. Furthermore, the current protection status of the intangible cultural heritage concepts of"delicacies"and"religious festivals"will be taken to explore cultural heritage declaration trends and orientation so as to examine the possibility of belief as also being intangible cultural heritage.