略论汉代民间的西王母信仰

先秦时期 ,西王母是西方母系氏族部落首领。战国时代 ,西王母开始被神化 ,由人演化为司灾厉及五刑残杀之气的瘟神和杀神。至汉代 ,西王母又被渴望成仙的人们仙化 ,成为掌不死之药 ,能使人长生不死 ,且度人成仙的吉神。东汉后期 ,西王母被道教吸纳 ,尊为元始天尊 ,位高权重 ,得到社会上下的普遍信仰

On the Folk Belief in Xi Wangmu of Han Dynasty

In the era before Qin Dynasty, Xi Wangmu was the chief of west maternal clan tribe. She had fluffy and disorderly hair, tiger's teeth, leopard's tail. In the Waring States , Xi Wangmu was deified and entered mythology from history legend and evolved devil and slay deity who administered disaster.In Han Dynasty, Xi Wangmu was made immortal and became lucky God which administed medicine of immortality with prosperous of dream of being immortal. She was also blissful God that brought affluent and future ages and had mysterious power of relief. Her image became old woman of white hair from half human and half animal and turned beautiful natural serious Goddess.In later period of Eastern Han Dynasty,Xi Wangmu was taken in Taoism and was esteemed Yuanshitianzun and was worshiped by people.