dc.description.abstract | Research on Reciprocate Parental Wish Rites in the Hsinchu Region
Abstract
This research investigates the reciprocate parental wish rites in the Hsinchu region through careful recording of rite process, usage items, space, text and legacy from experts of different factions, this research dissects the meaning of a rite.
The “reciprocate parental wish rite” is defined as a ritual that is carried out by proxy three years after one’s parents have passed away. The Hakka people in Hsinchu has a tradition of praying and asking for blessings from the Jade Emperor and other gods at times of difficulties, lack of good luck, ill health or lack of peace. Often they will also pray that the bad times will pass and good luck and long life will come. If their wishes do come true, most will choose an auspicious day to show their gratitude to the gods. However, in real life, most people of old age may not be able to return the favor. Thus, if one passed away without the opportunity to reciprocate, rites will be carried out by ritual experts such as auspicious foreteller, wizards or Taoist priests to return the favors to the gods. A terrace will be built in front of one’s house to carry out the rite to show gratitude to the gods, a rite commonly called “reciprocate parental wish rite” by the Hakka people.
This research has 13 townships and cities as participants of investigation and interviews with hand-copy texts as basis of study to analyze the meaning behind each step of the rite. This research believes that the “reciprocate parental wish rite” has many similarities to the rites of passage of Van Gennep. The cycle of human life consists of birth, growth, marriage, old age, death and various other natural disasters or unpredictable events. During the tumultuous times people often carry out certain ceremonies or rites to overcome their obstacles. Thus, people hold rites similar to religious ceremonies to bring peace to the deceased and comfort to the living.
During the rite, the children of the deceased will set up towers of upper, middle and lower cosmos through the help of the ritual experts. This allows interaction between the gods, the people and their ancestors with the entire universe, which in turn provides atmosphere where communication between this world and beyond is possible, and allows serenity to enter the hearts of those involved.
On the surface of these reciprocate parental wish rites, one performs these rites by proxy for their ancestors because one worries about wishes that their parents/ ancestors have not yet fulfilled and therefore could be punished in the other world. From another perspective, these rites help remove ill fortune from one’s family and invite good luck. Hence, “reciprocate parental wish rites” differ from the usual rites of passage in that the posterity performs the rites to fulfill their parents wishes and simultaneously ease their own psychological pressures.
In short, for the Hsinchu Hakka areas, the reciprocate parental wish rites act as the final ceremory of a person’s life .The concept revealed by this ceremory is the idea of giving back an equal amount for everything received, an important aspect of Hakkanese life.(ethos) Realizing the important of this rite has great signifcance fo Han Chinese in terms of social and cultural research.
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