| dc.description.abstract | The cult of Lady Linshui (Chen Jinggu) originated in the Gutian area of Fuzhou (northern Fujian province). Migrants from China transmitted her cult to Taiwan during the Qing dynasty (1644-1911), and it soon became highly popular in the Tainan area, Taiwan’s earliest economic and administrative center. The Tainan Lady Linshui Ma Temple, and another popular temple to her located in Paihe (Tainan County), were both built during the Qing, and both developed into key sacred sites for her cult that attract worshippers from all over Taiwan.
The main purpose of the study is to discuss the development of the cult of Lady Linshui in Taiwan. First, I analyze the growth of this cult in both China and Taiwan by using a wide range of documents, particularly local gazetteers and hagiographical texts. However, the main body of the thesis is devoted to case studies of the Baihe Linshui Temple and the Tainan Lady Linshui Ma Temple. I also compare these two sacred sites and their locales in terms of environment, local history, and social structure, while also considering how these factors shaped temple development. I pay particular attention to local social development, the construction processes and dates of these temples, the structure and change of the temple organizations, the participation of local elites, the organizations and actions of believers, etc.
In addition to historical sources, I also use extensive data collected during fieldwork at these two Lady Linshui temples to demonstrate the key roles that local elites and religious specialists play in cult growth. Religious specialists in particular work to address both the physiological and psychological needs of temple worshippers. My thesis focuses on the ritual masters (hongtou shigong) who perform a wide range of rituals on behalf of people who come to worship at Tainan’s Lady Linshui Temple. It describes a variety of rites designed to ensure a successful pregnancy and protect the health of young children. In addition, my thesis attempts to assess the links between religious specialists and local symbolic systems, as well as their place in the formation of social and cultural networks.
Finally, my analysis of the history of the cult of Lady Linshui attempts to correct errors in some of the sources, while also delineating the key factors in the development of Baihe Linshui Temple and the Tainan Lady Linshui Ma Temple. In doing so, I hope to identify the main factors underlying her cult’s growth, while also setting the stage for future research on this topic. | en_US |