Changsheng Huang (Wuhan University)
Since the 1980s, many kinds of folk beliefs in rural China have been revived and embodied varied regional characteristics as well as the carnival spirit of Chinese people. Drawing from fieldwork conducted in Yangxin County, Hubei Province, the paper examines the recent changes in a ritual named" Welcome Dai Wang" and highlights the multiple relations between gods and humans, which reflects the subversion of the order of daily life and local society. The ritual also demonstrates the compatibility and pluralism of eastern Hubei culture, revealing Chinese villagers' authentic folk life and spiritual word beyond the Confucian tradition.
Part of V3-02 From Uprooting to Re-rooting: Modern and Contemporary Discourses and Practices of Popular Religions in China, Wednesday, October 11, 7:30 pm–9:30 pm