| Summary: | 碩士 === 國立聯合大學 === 客家語言與傳播研究所 === 103 === Abstract
Nanjhuang Township is the place where most of the Saisiyat people live. During the Jaching period of the Ching Dynasty, a large number of the Hakka people and the Saisiyat people had a contact after a Cantonese named Huang Qi-Ying moved into Nanjhuang Township and did some cultivation. Because of the impact of the cross-cultural communication, it led to the Saisiyat people’s change of the behavior of worship as well as their viewpoints about gods and spirits.
There is only the universe and spirits in the traditional world view of the Saisiyat people and it is far different from the Hakka people’s viewpoint of gods and ghosts. In the study, we will discuss how these two sets of values about religion, gods and spirits coexist in the modern Saisiyat people’s lives. Also, how the Saisiyat people’s beliefs in the aspects of worship, ceremonies and concepts are influenced by the Hakka people after the Han Chinese moved into Nanjhuang Township, especially when the Hakka people made contact with the Saisiyat people. Furthermore, when the modern Saisiyat people’s beliefs in religion join together with those of the Hakka people, what new appearance will come up?
It the study, the researcher participated in and observed their paSbaki’ and interviewed fourteen tribe people. The main findings are as follows:
In the change of their behavior of beliefs, the Saisiyat peole esteem the Nature, respect their ancestors, and stand in awe of ta’ay They didn’t contact worshiping with the incense sticks and the culture of worshiping the idols. After they mixed with the Hakka, they also began to worship with incense sticks and worship many kinds of idols. They used to have faith in their ancestors. They thought their ancestors were invisible. However, when watching the Hakka people’s worshiping their ancestors, the Saisiyat people know the Hakka people place their ancestors in the shrine. Therefore, they do the same too. According to the Hakka beliefs, they worship their ancestors regularly.
After accepting the Hakka people’s beliefs, the values of the Saisiyat peole change greatly. The study has four findings.
(I) From invisible ancestors to ancestors of the material forms:
The Saisiyat people were spirit-worshiping before. They never thought to make tatini concrete or build a house for them. After contacting the Hakka culture, they learn from them and they set up shrines and build graves for tatini. Thereby, they make invisible spirits have “houses”. Their ancestors are of the material form in the shrines and in the graves.
(II)From groups to individuals:
At first, the Saisiyat people were made up by their family names. People of the same family were all equal. According to their old tradition, members of all family names were arranged various jobs. In the group, they farmed together, ate together, and hunted together. They did their work respectively. By this way, they kept all things going on smoothly all year round. But when people put their tatini in their shrines, it also had impact on the world of the tatini. By worshiping their own ancestors, they get their welfare and happiness. Accordingly, individual self begins to develop. People put themselves in the center of their thought and behavior. You are yourself and I am myself. The tribe people who lived together before are no longer in simple relationship. There are changes in the world of people. They begin to pay attention to themselves and they see their own or their family’s need.
(III)From being unrealistic to reincarnation:
When the Saisiyat people contacted the Hakka culture, they heard about the concept of reincarnation. They used to believe that the spirit would never die. Now, they turn to accept the concept of reincarnation. Besides it, they also come to believe that if people do evil things when they are alive, they will go to the hell after they die. They also develop the thought of releasing souls from purgatory. They copy the thought of the right and wrong, the noble and the humble to the world where the dead people live.
(IV)From spirit-worshiping to god-worshiping and ghost-worshiping:
In the world where spirits never die, the Saisiyat people don’t believe in gods. They think when people leave their bodies, they become spirits. In other words, when people die, they become spirits. When the dwarfs die, they become the spirits of dwarfs. The spirits live in the same place where they live when they are alive. They still live with their tribe people. However, they are invisible. When there are special worship ceremonies, the spirits will be invited to come back to their former living space. Through it, the tribe people believe the spirits will return. When contacting many Hakka believes about gods, they know other gods as well as their ancestors. By worshiping gods, people can also get the benefits and rewards. With the successful experience, they enhance their faith and reliance toward gods.
|
|---|
