The Evolution and Integration of Religious Beliefs in Quanzhou's Southern Fujian Region
"Minnan" broadly encompasses regions influenced by Minnan culture, such as Southern Fujian, Chaoshan in Guangdong, Hailufeng, Taiwan, and Southeast Asia. This text focuses specifically on the Southern Fujian region of modern-day China, including Quanzhou, Xiamen, Zhangzhou, and parts of Zhangping and other nearby counties.
The religious diversity of Quanzhou has been shaped by various factors, including cultural integration within China, maritime trade, and the local promotion of religious practices.
1. Cultural Integration in Inland China
The Minnan region has long been home to the indigenous Min and Yue ethnic groups, whose unique culture predates the Qin and Han dynasties. With the unification efforts of the northern dynasties and subsequent Han migrations, "Han" culture gradually merged with the Min and Yue traditions.
Despite differences in belief systems, the shared reverence for the supernatural among the Han, Min, and Yue peoples became a foundation for rituals, worship, and customary rites. Over time, indigenous shamanistic traditions blended with Confucian, Buddhist, and Taoist practices, giving rise to a distinct Minnan belief system characterized by faith in witches and reverence for spirits.
2. Influence of Maritime Trade on Religious Diversity
Quanzhou's natural harbors and developed maritime routes positioned it as a major trade port, particularly during the Tang, Song, and Yuan dynasties. By the Song-Yuan period, Quanzhou was one of the "world's two largest ports" and the starting point of the Maritime Silk Road.
Religious diversity in Minnan was significantly enriched by foreign missionaries who arrived with merchant ships. Religions such as Buddhism, Taoism, Christianity, Catholicism, Islam, Hinduism, and Manichaeism coexisted and influenced local beliefs.
Notably, distinctions between religions were less rigid historically. Figures from Hinduism and Manichaeism, for example, were often referred to as "foreign Buddhas." In this context, "Buddha" became a collective term encompassing divine figures from various traditions, reflecting the syncretic nature of Minnan's folk religious practices.
3. Local Promotion of Religious Culture
Quanzhou's administrative leaders played a pivotal role in fostering religious development. During the late Tang Dynasty and Five Dynasties period, Yanbin Wang, the governor of Quanzhou, actively supported Buddhism by establishing over 20 temples and providing land for their upkeep.
Subsequent leaders, such as Congxiao Liu and Chen Hongjin, continued to build temples and support religious institutions. For instance, the creation of temples like Chongfu Temple, Chengtian Temple, and others during the Song Dynasty solidified Quanzhou's reputation as the "Buddhist Kingdom."
Although many of these temples have since been abandoned, their legacy endures through place names and cultural practices in Quanzhou today.
4. The Unique Religious Landscape of Minnan
The religious culture is diverse and regionally distinctive. Taoism and Buddhism dominate, but other faiths, such as Christianity and Islam, are also practiced. Unique local elements, such as animal worship, shamanistic practices, and ancestor worship, further enrich Minnan's religious identity.
The religious culture of Quanzhou reflects a rich history of cultural blending, maritime influence, and local promotion. Its syncretic nature and regional characteristics make defining belief systems solely based on a single religious tradition difficult. This intricate tapestry of beliefs highlights the dynamic interplay between local customs, external influences, and the enduring spiritual aspirations of the Minnan people.
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