| Summary: | 博士 === 國立中興大學 === 中國文學系所 === 105 === Having been considered omnipotent, the deities in folk belief carry out mundane tasks such as exorcising ghosts and spirits, or driving away pestilence and ill fortune. A specific deity thus turns out to be a saviour to fulfil people’s expectations when they are in need and also conduct divine justice in human world so as to adjust the disordered back to the right track. Among the deities in folk belief, Zhong Kui is an example; he not only chases away ghosts but also catches ghosts. This dissertation aims to explore the idea of “the divine justice enforcer” of Zhong Kui. Is Zhong Kui the justice enforcer on behalf of heaven despite the fact that Zhong Kui is played as a role by the mortal in folk culture? If this is the case, how can he enforce justice on behalf of the divine?
The belief of Zhong Kui is derived from the ritual, known as, “Ta Nuo,” referring to the sorcerer’s exorcism of evil spirits. Such ritual inherits the legacy of witchcraft / soothsayer (Wu) and local deities (Fang) in the ancient time. Therefore, the belief of Zhong Kui absorbs the essence of the ancient culture of Wu belief. Having been influenced by several religious movements, the significance of Wu transforms into the common idea of divine justice. Wu belief and Zhong Kui thus can be considered two sides of one folk belief.
This dissertation discusses the concept of the divine justice enforcer with a focal point on the broader meaning of the divine justice (“Dao”). The idea of Dao shall not be restrictively explored in the realistic and political aspects; nor is it limited to the chivalrous spirit that conducts individual needs or life goals. This dissertation aims to broaden the idea of Dao to look at the interrelationship among the divine (Tien), the justice (Dao), and the justice enforcer (Xin-Dao) through the cosmological influence upon the meaning of human life.
Nowadays, the ritual of Tiao Zhong Kui is often conducted during religious events such as the door-opening ceremony in the temple or the ritual of the altar-cleansing. It aims to drive away the unclean invisible to human eyes to purify the venue of religious events, ensuring the success of god-thanking ceremony. However, in the ritual of Tiao Zhing Kui, Zhong Kui is played as a role by human or by marionette. This dissertation intends to ask the following questions: What is the significance of the ritual of Tiao Zhong Kui as Zhong Kui is played by the mortal? From what belief can a mortal play the role of Zhong Kui? How and why can a marionette manifest the divine power of Zhong Kui? From what sources comes the practice that Zhong Kui is capable of chasing away the unclean?
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