白帝天王：传说与信仰

白帝天王或曰三王是湘西地区影响最大的本地神祇，在湘西流传着众多异文。用故事学的方法梳理这些异文可以发现：伴随本地区的社会变迁，白帝天王传说的核心母题由最初的“威慑”，后变为“忠顺”，至清后期转变为“三王之母”，同时，神祇的功能也出现相应变化，从早期的神判，中期的教化，发展到后期的赐福。在信仰流变的过程中，不同的群体都参与了神祗的构建。作为一地区重要的民间信仰，三王信仰中的人与神关系具有典型性。

Legend of and Faith on Baiditian God

There are many different legends of Three Gods (collectively known as Baiditian God),the most influential gods in Xiangxi areas.Collating these legends,we may find that with the local social changes,the core of the legends has turned from the early deterrent to loyalty and obedience,and to “mother of the Three Gods” in the late Qing Dynasty (1636—1912).Meanwhile，the functions of the gods have also changed correspondingly,from the early divine judgment to the middle education and the late blessing.In the process of the change of faith,different groups have participated in the construction of gods.As an important folk faith,Three Gods is typical of a relationship between man and god.