龍舟與競渡的象徵原理與實質社效

The Symbolization of Dragonboat- Culture and Economic Function

黄麗雲(Lie-Yun Huang)

《通識教育與多元文化學報》 2期 (2011/08) Pp. 133-152

https://doi.org/10.30119/TSJYYDYWHXB.201108.0006

摘要

龍神信仰的根基深植中國古代，其水神祭的龍舟競渡祇不過示現素來的宗教面與競技面罷了。説穿了是祭祀儀禮與模擬呪術的結合。龍，從來被視為帝王的圖騰，具有掌握政權的力量。用之民間則行使祭儀以利風調雨順、國泰民安。而船原代表上層社會的國家體制，象徴帝王的化身。借龍船行使競渡時則有驅疫攘災之實質社效，擴大其意義則活絡地域社會的經濟。水是競渡時的載體，因是自然法則的要素，成為人類生存不可欠乏的源體。他既象徴超能力的水神又象徴政權底下的庶民。當水的元素不存在時，常有以「旱龍船」之名實施模擬的水上競渡。同様地被認同具備相當的呪術，以達到風雨調順、國民泰安。龍・船・水三體合一能達宇宙平衡的天理，含攝普世的宗教意識又發揮固有的經濟效益。這便是龍舟與競渡的象徴原理與實質社效。其原理帶來社會生活共同體的和樂與道徳秩序（市場機制）的維持。今日龍舟競渡在華南地域不僅是龍舟文化的傳承競技，亦是國際觀光化的標的。因縁際會地臺灣「端午扒龍船」代言了龍舟與競渡的象徴原理與社會實效。本文核心的龍神信仰是無法與農業神的水神區隔探討的，他具備有原始崇拜的祖先神性格。「龍王祭」端午競渡前奏行事，即是龍神信仰在臺灣具現化的儀禮。這個具現化當今以「傳統式」和「簡略式」被進行著。

關鍵字

龍神 ； 龍舟競渡 ； 觀光 ； 龍王祭 ； 經濟

並列摘要

The Dragonboat Festival symbolizes an ancient belief in the Dragon God. This belief reminds the people in society to reflect on the original meaning of religion (＝popular religious meaning), and its social and economic function（＝ contests, local performances）. In other words, it works in the sense of Chinese philosophical thinking: ＂If wind and rain are smooth, the country and people will be peaceful＂. The ＂religious meaning＂ in this paper refers to the Dragon’s character as a holy and magical power. On the other hand, ＂contests＂ are also part of the process of praying and of religious ceremony. It is popularly believed that by correctly guessing the winner, a spectator of the race can bestow upon himself a prosperous year ahead and that correct observance of worship would result in economic success. Today the dragon-culture in Taiwan have presented the value of Dragon God Belief as above. The most importment ceremony for worshipping anster god which be called Dragon God is hold by traditionnal or simply style on May Five in Taiwan.

並列關鍵字

Dragon God ； dragon-culture ； travel ； Dragon ceremony ； economic function