An Investigation Of The Transmission Of The Xiao-Fa-Tuan Practice In Tainan

• Main Authors: Tsai-jung Ou, 歐財榮
• Other Authors: Wen-feng Ta
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2012
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/34528628896123320683

碩士 === 國立臺南大學 === 台灣文化研究所碩士班 === 100 === Part of traditional Taiwanese folk religion, the Xiao-fa-tuan (lit. smaller exorcist group), which provides a variety of Daoist ritualistic services in Tainan, can be traced back to the 17th-century Taiwan society largely comprised of Han immigrants from China. Being far away from home and facing an unpredictable future, the predecessors of this group hoped to eradicate all calamities and ill fortune by beseeching deities and spirits. This offered tremendous psychological comfort to the early settlers. Belonging to a Daoist temple, a qualified exorcist is well acquainted with all daoist sorcery crafts and performs a variety of esoteric ceremonial rituals on behalf of the devout, including services such as “offering gratitude to the Lord of the Land,” “building a bridge to cross a barrier,” ”bringing (a spirit) to life by dotting the eyes (of an effigy),” and “dissipating trauma.” These exorcists once played an important role in passing on the religious culture and folk customs of Taiwan as well as contributing to its social stability. They can be seen as significant cultural assets and are invaluable in the search for the origins of local religious practices. By examining related documents and conducting field studies, this dissertation attempts to shed light on the origin of the group’s name, its historical development, the ceremonial rituals it conducts, and the religious artifacts it employs. The author offers an objective overview of the so-called “smaller exorcist group” and argues for its return to its rightful place in history, particularly with regard to its role in pleading for blessings from deities, developing social stability and effecting cultural transmission. This paper also probes the different sects of Daoist exorcism in the hope of preserving these intangible cultural assets and fostering interest in Taiwanese folk tours.