“民间信仰”的重新界说

在对＂民间信仰＂的研究中,应将＂民间信仰＂与＂民间宗教＂区别使用,尽量使用＂民间信仰＂这一学术术语而不要采用具有政治意识形态色彩的＂封建迷信＂一词,应主要采用＂民间信仰＂来概括现代社会中的民间仪式活动但又不要否认其中可能存在的巫术遗留或巫术倾向。＂民间信仰＂可以重新界定为：与制度型宗教相对应的一种宗教类型,由广大民众（包括城市和农村民众）基于对某种超自然力量（祖先、神、鬼及风水、阴阳、命运等神秘力量）的信奉而进行的祭祀、崇拜、占卜、禁咒、灵魂附体等各种形式的仪式活动,这种仪式活动可以发生在家庭、祠堂、登记或未登记的宗教场所内。在＂民间信仰＂这个大概念基础上应提炼出更具分析性和指导性的＂小＂概念。只有经历一个类型学比较研究阶段,才能最终完成认清中国民间信仰的真实图景之宏愿。

Redefining "Folk Belief"

It is argued that ＂folk belief＂ should be discriminated from ＂folk religion＂ , that the academic term of ＂folk belief＂ adopted for maximal avoidance of the ideologically labeled wording ＂feudal superstition＂ , and that the term used to summarize existing folk ritual activities without denying their possible witchcraft residue or inclination. The term of ＂folk belief＂ can be redefined as a kind of religion contrary to institutional religion and any ritual activity such as sacrifice, worship, augury, conjuration, possession which is carried out at home or in ancestral hall, registered or unregistered religious site by mass people, urban or rural, who believe in some supernatural forces like ancestor, immortal, ghost as well as mysterious fengshui, ying-yang and fate. It is needed to abstract from the macro-concept of ＂folk belief＂ more analytic and instructional ＂micro＂ concept, only through a typological comparison process of which can the task of mapping Chinese folk beliefs be completed.