| 摘要: | 本研究以平鎮褒忠祠義民祭典為個案，探討臺灣傳統客家神豬祭祀文化與現代動物福利觀念間的衝突與對話。儘管現代社會快速發展，神豬祭祀仍為具代表性的傳統儀式，但其涉及強迫灌食與宰殺等行為，引發動保團體的倫理質疑，反映出傳統信仰與現代價值的矛盾。
研究整合宗教信仰、動物權利與族群認同等多元觀點，旨在尋求兼顧文化保存與動物福利的可行路徑。研究目的包括：分析義民信仰對客家在地認同的塑造、探討神豬祭祀的文化功能、理解其如何回應動保挑戰，以及廟方與社群如何透過調適與創新實踐因應社會爭議。
本研究採質性方法，包括文獻分析、田野調查與深度訪談。研究發現，神豬祭祀象徵對神明的敬意、宗族力量的展現及客家忠義精神的傳承，為社群凝聚與歷史記憶的核心。然而，在動物福利的壓力下，平鎮褒忠祠等地已展開內部調整，如推行彩繪神豬、創意神豬等非暴力象徵形式，回應社會期待，同時維繫文化意涵。
最後，研究建議推動儀式調適與文化再詮釋，強化社會對話與公共參與，並檢討《動物保護法》中的文化豁免規範，促進神豬祭祀的永續發展與文化轉型，實現傳統與現代的平衡共生。
;This study takes the Yimin Festival at Pingzhen Baozhong Temple as a case to explore the conflict and dialogue between Taiwan’s traditional Hakka ritual of sacrificial pigs (shen zhu) and modern concepts of animal welfare. Despite the rapid development of contemporary society, the sacrificial pig ritual remains a representative traditional practice.
However, it involves practices such as force-feeding and slaughter, which have drawn ethical criticism from animal protection groups, highlighting the tension between traditional beliefs and modern values.
The research integrates multiple perspectives—including religious belief, animal rights, and ethnic identity—with the aim of identifying a feasible path that balances cultural preservation and animal welfare. The study’s objectives include analyzing how Yimin belief shapes Hakka local identity, examining the cultural functions of the sacrificial pig ritual, understanding how it responds to animal welfare challenges, and investigating how temples and communities adapt and innovate to address social controversies.
This research adopts qualitative methods, including literature review, fieldwork, and in-depth interviews. The findings show that the sacrificial pig ritual symbolizes reverence for the deities, the expression of clan strength, and the transmission of Hakka values of loyalty and righteousness. It serves as a focal point for community cohesion and collective memory. However, under the growing pressure of animal welfare, places like Pingzhen Baozhong Temple have begun internal reforms, such as promoting painted or creatively decorated pigs as non-violent symbolic alternatives that respond to societal expectations while preserving cultural meanings.
Finally, the study recommends promoting ritual adaptation and cultural reinterpretation, enhancing public dialogue and participation, and reexamining the cultural exemption clauses in the Animal Protection Act. These efforts aim to support the sustainable development and cultural transformation of the sacrificial pig ritual, fostering a balanced coexistence between tradition and modernity. |
