跨族群的宗教传承与变迁--马来西亚华人拿督公崇拜的历时研究

论文通过历史学文献方法和人类学多点田野调查的结合,论述了马来西亚拿督公崇拜的起源、演变和现状。研究认为:拿督公崇拜是一个跨族群的多元文化的复合体,其中最主要的三个文化因素是源于中国的土地神信仰、马来人的克拉末精灵崇拜以及伊斯兰教的圣者崇拜。在拿督公崇拜一百多年来的历史发展中,我们既可以看到这些宗教因素的跨族群的传承,也可以发现他们的不断演变——体现在各因素内涵的再概念化、再诠释,以及因素之间关系的再整合。这个特殊的崇拜揭示了马来西亚华人发展其宗教信仰和文化认同的独特方式——一方面是对中国文化的传承和对其他文化的借鉴,另一方面则是在与本土其他族群的互动过程中对各种文化进行融合和演变。

Continuation and Change in Trans-ethnic Religions: A Diachronic Study of Datuk Gong Worship among Malaysian Chinese

The Datuk Gong is a Malay deity worshipped by Malaysian Chinese,and has been incorporated into the system of“Chinese Religion”in Malaysia.This article explains the origin,evolution and the status quo of Datuk Gong worship.It argues that worshipping the Datuk Gong is a trans-ethnic and multi-cultural complex with three ingredients--the Tudi Shen belief from China,the keramat worship among the indigenous Malays,and saint worship within the Muslims.The evolution of Datuk Gong worship spanning over one hundred years suggests that a trans-ethnic continuation has taken place in Malaysia as reflected in reconceptualization and reinterpretation in each of the three belief systems and also connotational reintegration amongst the three.The Datuk Gong worship contributes a unique element to the Malaysian Chinese identity that has inherited from Chinese culture as well as cultures of other ethnic groups rooted in the land of Malaysia.