探究香港民间水神信仰的源流

自古以来,岭南就是世界海洋贸易的东方中心。海神、河神以及水神等都受到当地人的尊崇。香港作为中国南海的重要港口之一是水神信仰的早期传入地。香港的渔民、水手等从事海上作业的人历来靠水而生,他们当中有不少人信奉水神(香港民间一般将海神、河神等一律统称为水神)。透过对香港民间华人庙宇的探究,讨论了香港水神信仰的源流,发现香港的民间信仰在岭南文化中起到历史传承、兼容并蓄以及典范表率的作用。

The Origins of Folk Belief in Water Spirits in Hongkong

Lingnan has been the eastern center of world’s maritime trade since ancient times.Goddesses of the sea,the rivers and the waters are naturally respected by the locals.As one of the important ports around the South China Sea,Hongkong is the place where the worship of water spirits was introduced at an early stage.In Hongkong,fishermen,sailors and others believe in such spirits as goddesses of the sea,the river and so on,collectively referred to as ’water spirits’ as their living is closely associated with the sea.By exploring the origins of popular cults related to these spirits,especially by investigating local shrines and temples,we can see how traditional beliefs have been carried on in Hongkong and how they have managed to become model examples for popular cults.