臺灣迎王祭典中所見的民俗工藝－以臺江內海刈香王醮祭典為例

盛行於臺灣西南海岸與澎湖地區，以迎送代天巡狩王爺為主的祭典，在臺灣雖然不是最盛大的祭典活動，但這類稱為「王醮刈香」或「平安祭典」的迎王祭典，卻是較為普遍且內容又較為豐富的祭典之一，也成為王爺信仰最具代表性的信仰活動之一。其中尤其以臺江內海地區所舉行的王醮刈香，結合王府禮儀、王醮科儀、繞境等多元化行事內容，又在三年一科循環性舉行之下，而成為深受矚目之廟會慶典。一個盛大祭典之舉行，除了禮儀、祭儀行事之外，尤須藉由各類型的民俗工藝、宗教藝術做為儀式空間營造的主要手段。本文即以臺江內海三年一科所舉行的王醮刈香祭典為例，在祭典的儀式脈絡之下，分類探討其間所呈現的各類型民俗工藝與宗教藝術。

關鍵字

王醮；刈香；迎王；臺江內海；民俗工藝；宗教藝術

並列摘要

Prevalent in the southwestern coast of Taiwan and in the Penghu area, the ceremonies called ''kua-hsiang and the Lord Offering Ritual'' or ''Peace Offerings'' that greet the Royal Lord as he processes around the region may not the grandest ceremonies in Taiwan, but they are nevertheless well-known and colorful. ''Kua-hsiang and the Lord Offering Festival'' has become the most representative practices of the Royal Lord. Among them, ''kua-hsiang and the Lord Offering Ritual'', which was held in an imagined sphere called the ''Taijiang Lagoon'' (previously a large lagoon) combined with the diverse activities of Royal Lord etiquette, the Lord Offering Ritual, and the inter-communitarian territorial procession. This cycle of ceremonies takes place every three years and becomes a conspicuous Temple Festival celebration. In addition to ceremonies, certain related abstinences and prohibitions were used as means for creating a ritual space, together with various types of folk crafts and religious art. This article takes the ''kua-hsiang and the Lord Offering Festival'' in the Taijiang Lagoon Region as the study case. These ceremonies and rituals, and the various types of folk crafts and religious art presented during the ceremonies are discussed.