臺灣關帝信仰的文教內涵

Abstract

This article examines the significance and distribution of Taiwan's"KuanTi (關帝 ) Worship" in the Miaoli Area from the Ching Dynasty until presenttimes. KuanTi is a Chinese deity (originally mortal) revered by both officialsand private citizens and employed over the past few hundred years to promote theprecepts of Confucianims. Faith in KuanTi has an extremely deep influence overthe soul, life and personal morals of the Chinese people. The conquest of Taiwanby Koxinga (國姓爺), unleashed a flood of Chinese immigration to Taiwan,bringing the "KuanTi" to Taiwan where it sank deep roots which only strengthenedover time. Local Chinese never lost their faith in KuanTi, even during thesevere cultural repression experienced during 51 years of Japanese occupation.The extremely deep influence KuanTi held over daily life, an influence thatreinforced Confucian ideals with every visit to the KuanTi Temple, enabledlocals to maintain their cultural identity. Without the influence of KuanTi, andthe dedication of his earlier follows to establish his faith in Taiwan, Chineseculture would have been overwhelmed during the occupation and Taiwan would havebeen left a perpetual slave to Japan.