Vow-making Rituals in Modern Taiwan

• Main Author: 胡學丞
• Other Authors: 康豹
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2018
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/3yhe27

博士 === 國立政治大學 === 歷史學系 === 106 === In modern Taiwan, judicial rituals constitute a key facet of Chinese legal culture that have the potential to be utilized for the achievement of social harmony. However, due to the influence of “secularization” theories, scholars have long overlooked the importance of these practices.The goal of this dissertation is to explore the history of vow-making rituals (lishi 立誓), as well as their influence on the legal culture of modern Taiwan. The core ideology of the vow-making ritualslies inmoral principles, with honesty and fidelity being of prime importance. At the same time, however, it is essential to note that vow-making rituals may not simply promote social order but also spark tensions and even conflict. The main types of vow-making rituals in modern Taiwanese history include cursing, oaths of alliance, vows for joining religious organizations, oaths of office, oaths for civil contracts, military oaths, oaths of loyalty, wedding oaths, and oaths to reform one’s behavior. This dissertation studiesthe origins and functions of the first four types of these rituals, while also analyzing people’s attitudes toward them. Apart from the Introduction and Conclusion, the dissertation is divided into five chapters. Chapter 2 traces the origins of the vow-making rituals mentioned above, especially their links to practices in China. This chapter also provides an overview of how such rites are performed in Taiwan as well as their functions. Chapter 3 features a case study of cursing rites, including the reasons for their performance, when and where they can be staged, gods worshipped, and the content of actual curses. I also focus on the people who perform these rites plus their motives for doing so, with special attention devoted to officials, politicians, and elections. Chapter 4 focuses on oaths of alliance. Apart from considering when, where, and how these rituals can be held, I provide detailed descriptions of the contents of such oaths and the practice of drinking liquor mixed with the blood of an animal or human beings. In addition, I analyze the attitudes of officials from a legal perspective, while also considering how the press has treated oaths of alliance among gang members. In Chapter 5, I present new data on initiation rituals for the Unity Sect (Yiguan Dao 一貫道) in postwar Taiwan, as well as their origins in practices performed by the Way of Former Heaven (Xiantian Dao 先天道). After describing the history and current performances of these rituals, I explore how Unity Sect initiations have been the subject of extensive discussions and critiques by officials and the mass media, aswell as Buddhist and Christian elites. The chapter concludes with remarks on trends for future developments in these rites. Finally, Chapter 6 investigates oaths of office in postwar Taiwan. This chapter begins by analyzing initiation oaths for members of the Nationalist Party (KMT), especially their Christian and secret society elements. This is followed by a discussion of the links between these earlier oaths and the oaths of office held today. Finally, I consider how politicians and ordinary citizens view such practices from not only political and legal but also moral perspectives, as well as the influence of the cult of Sun Yat-sen.