『 帝京歲時紀勝』에 나타난 中國 歲時風俗 考察

Abstract

The paper focuses on the variety of seasonal rituals existed in Beijing during the Qing Dinasty period. It covers a total of 93 rites from January to December according to the lunar calendar and the majority of rites are concentrated on the first and the final month of a year. The paper has selected 49 rites among them with a view to observing the way of behavior and thinking of the common people in China. The traditional festive days are thirteen occasions: New Year's Day(1.1); the Beginning of Spring; the Dragon-Boat Festival(5.5); the Mid-Autumn Festival(8.15); the Winter Solstice; and others. Almost all of the festive days are celebrated by both government level and people in general. These ceremonies are either for the celebration of the festivity, or for the memorial service. Beside people perform their prayer to have a son or a good fortune and sometimes they consult fortunetellers to be free from bad omens. They also express their good wishes to bid farewell to a year or for a new year to come. As to the religious festive days, there are a total of twenty three rites, which are commonly concentrated in the first half of the year. These religious festive events are mainly based on the folk belief. One can easily find a strong Taoistic influence, but also a mixture among Taoism, Buddhism and Confucianism. The Taoist festive events are thirteen which are among others: Lantern Festival(1.15); Double-Seventh Day(7.7) the Double Ninth Festival(9.9); and ZaoWangJi(12.23). There are also religious festive events in close connection with Taoism and Buddhism. They are eight rituals such as ; YuFoJie(4.8); ZhongYuanJie(7.15); and the Laba rice porridge Festival(12.8), among others. Almost all religious events are taken place in commemoration of the birthday of important religious or historical figures. People get together at the Taoist or Buddhist temples to pay their respect and congratulations through the performance of different dances and plays in order to have their wishes fulfilled. In a sense the religious figures are turned out to be almighty gods. There are 10 unclassifiable rites of diverse characteristics. In June there are days when people bathe elephants and horses; A day to admire lotus blossoms; In July a day designated to raise crickets; In September a day designated to have quail-fighting; and to preserve vegetables in salt; In October there are events to warm up a house with coal and to raise mole crickets; In November events are organized to have for sleighing, skating and playing soccer games; And in December a market is opened to sell different classes of foods and other materials. There are three taboos in January, May and September respectively. On the period of time of taboos people are advised not to move the house, not to put rice papers on the windows and to conduct prayers to be free from evils if one wishes to have a son. The seasonal rituals in general are to invite a good fortune and drive away all sorts of mishaps and they are also closely related with the natural environments of the respective season of the year.