中国民间信仰的研究潜力及其学术意义——兼议诸位汉学家的理论与方法启迪  

The Research Potential of Chinese Folk Beliefs and Its Academic Significance—And a Review on the Theoretical and Methodological Enlightenments from the Sinologists Considered

作　　者：张志刚[1,2,3] Zhang Zhigang

机构地区：[1]北京大学外国哲学研究所 [2]北京大学 [3]山东大学

出　　处：《国际汉学》2023年第2期5-14,155,共11页International Sinology

摘　　要：何谓“民间信仰”,堪称中国近现代思想史上“最大的一笔传统文化糊涂账”,这便使如何认识“民间信仰”成为中国传统文化研究的“一道老大难问题”。毋庸讳言,强烈贬斥民间信仰的理论倾向在中国近现代思想史上存在久矣,其始作俑者恐怕要远究到明末清初来华传教士所输入“西方一神论宗教观”。因而,若能破除此种外来宗教观的偏颇影响,立足中国传统文化,提炼海内外学者的先进研究成果,尤其是潜心中国宗教研究的诸位汉学家的理论与方法启迪,可使人重新认识到,古往今来遍布中国乡土的民间信仰及其祭拜活动,深植于“崇德报功”的素朴观念或称“原生态信仰”,其主要社会功能与百姓的日常生活息息相关。若能着眼其“典型和主流”、发掘其“底色与本性”,不但可重估中国民间信仰,全面认识中国传统文化及其宗教文化特质,且能在基础理论上有所突破,对国际宗教学界现行的相关概念、理论与方法有所修正、补充或升华。What exactly are folk beliefs?Such is perhaps the biggest“mess”that was created in China’s modern history of ideas,which has made the understanding of folk beliefs a“big headache”in the study of traditional Chinese culture.Needless to say,the theoretical bias strongly against folk beliefs has long been entrenched,which is probably rooted in the monotheistic approach to religion that was introduced by the Western missionaries coming to China during the late Ming and early Qing Dynasties.Thus,if the negative influences of such imported prejudices is cleared,and if today’s scholars are well grounded in traditional Chinese culture while using the latest research results in the field within and outside China,especially the theoretical and methodological enlightenments from those sinologists who have devoted themselves to the study of Chinese religions,we will be able to recognize that those age-old folk beliefs and worshipping activities found across the country are rooted in the simple idea of“venerating the virtuous and rewarding their merits”or“the pristine beliefs”,the main social functions of which have been closely related to the daily life of common people.Thus,if we focus on“the typical and the mainstream”,and discover“its real character”,we will be able to reassess the Chinese folk beliefs for a full understanding of traditional Chinese culture and the characteristics of its religious culture.Moreover,we will be able to make some theoretical breakthroughs regarding basic theory,and revise,supplement,or advance the concepts,theories or methods being used in the global field of religious studies.

关 键 词：中国民间信仰 民间宗教 汉学家的理论与方法 研究潜力 学术意义 

分 类 号：G03[文化科学]