Sample paper on the development of Hakka culture
The ritual culture of the Hakka clan
Abstract Various ritual activities not only involve traditional memory and cultural inheritance , but also involves belonging to the group and group education. Especially for an ethnic group, the Hakka people live in groups and have formed their own unique cultural system for thousands of years. A series of ritual activities play an important role in the life of the ethnic group, and some of them also contain rich cultural heritage. with profound educational significance. Analyzing and studying these rituals has important reference significance for understanding the unique ritual culture of Hakkas.
Keywords Hakka; clan; ritual; educational significance
Abstract variety of ceremonial activities involves not only traditional memory, cultural heritage, but also to the ownership of the community and education groups. Especially for an ethnic group, the Hakka clan cluster, for thousands of years to form its own unique cultural system, a series of ritual activity plays an important role in their communities of life, some of which also contains a wealth of and profound educational significance . Analysis and study of these rituals, rituals for understanding the unique Hakka culture has an important reference.
Key words Hakka; clan; ceremony; educational
Ritual, that is, a set of A practical activity that combines behavioral patterns and symbols as elements to perform. The earliest ones we know of are various rituals performed by humans in primitive societies during activities such as war, sowing, hunting, and praying for rain. After entering civilized society, although ritual activities involving superstition and witchcraft gradually disappeared, various other folk and official ritual activities continued to emerge, such as folk religion, sacrifices, cultural ritual activities, etc., official politics, administration, Educational rituals and activities, etc., tell us all the time: rituals affect all aspects of our lives and all aspects of our lives are affected by them.
The Hakka group is a unique branch group of the Han nationality. Due to historical reasons, they are accustomed to living together as a group, thus forming a unique Hakka community. Bailu Village in the Gannan region of Jiangxi Province is a very typical such community. After more than 800 years, it has formed a Hakka clan gathering area where 98% of the population has the unique surname "Zhong". In this process, it also formed its own set of ritual systems. Among them, there is one ritual that the author believes best reflects the unique culture of the Hakkas and the ritual education of the Hakka clan that this article will discuss, and that is the "ancestral hall ceremony" of Bailu Village. The so-called "ancestral hall ceremony" is just a very general concept. Specifically, it means that the ancestral hall is used as a fixed place in the clan to hold various ceremonies, and these ceremonies can bring some degree of educational significance to clan members.
One of the most important rituals in Bailu Village’s ancestral hall ceremony is the ancestor worship ceremony. Every morning on the first day of the new year, a respected member of the clan will lead the clan members to the main ancestral hall to worship their ancestors and prepare sacrificial vessels. , there are dedicated personnel to purchase three animals and other sacrificial supplies. Then, these respected elders will preside over the ceremony. Under the command of the officiant, the men, women, and children of the clan will kowtow to the tablets and portraits of their ancestors, offer sacrificial wine, three animals and other fruits, and then recite sacrificial inscriptions, fire cannons, blow suona, and Beat gongs and drums. After the ancestor worship ceremony at noon, all the clan members had a meal in the hall of the ancestral hall. The whole clan talked and laughed, remembering the Hakka ancestors and recalling their origins together. In addition, they also have to sing "Donghe Opera" (one of the Hakka operas in southern Jiangxi, evolved from Kun Opera) in the ancestral hall for three days. The whole family, men, women, old and young, go to watch it together, which is very lively. Not only do they sing "Donghe Opera" in the ancestral hall, but the clan also invites a theater troupe to perform a puppet show in the village temple for three days. This custom has been carried out in Bailu Village for generations.
The second important ritual is to grab the sedan chair, which is a custom unique to Bailu Village.
On the evening of the seventh day of the first lunar month, in the main ancestral hall, incense is burned and candles are lit, and salutes are fired. Each branch in the village (each branch under the clan, there are six branches in Bailu Village) sends out strong young people, and every three houses are one The team was divided into two teams, each with about five to six people. They clustered on both sides of a thick wooden frame in the shape of a well. They grabbed the wooden frame, starting from the main ancestral hall, and each team pulled desperately in the direction of the other team. The whole process was extremely intense, and the fighting between the two sides was like a fierce fight with red eyes. Everyone was covered in paint, and it would not be an exaggeration to describe it as bruises, bruises, and bruises. This back and forth lasted for dozens of rounds, ranging from ten minutes to more than an hour. The clan members from each branch of the clan cheered for their team, and the scene was extremely shocking. Until both sides are exhausted, whoever can pull the sedan to their own direction will be the winner. Winning that house will not only bring honor to one's branch, but also get two tubes of sesame cakes as a reward. After the ceremony, both parties went to the ancestral hall to have a drink and become a family again. There is a saying that the mountain behind Bailu Village is shaped like five tigers. People in the village are afraid that the evil spirit is too strong, so the purpose of rushing to beat the sedan is to knock the mountain to scare the tigers. Another theory is that the Hakka people are brave and aggressive, and the annual "Robbing" and "Sedan" activities can satisfy the desire of the younger generations of the clan to fight, and at the same time, it can unite the clan members and enhance the cohesion of the clan.
The last ceremony is various disciplinary activities held in the ancestral hall. The Hakka people have always attached great importance to education. There is a saying in Bailu Village? If you are good at farming, you will do business; if you are good at business, you will learn. And excellence means being an official?. Therefore, the Chinese culture is prevalent in the clan, and the clan members are fond of etiquette and attach great importance to a person's conduct. Therefore, the tribesmen treat others in a polite manner, paying special attention to etiquette and education. But sometimes there are ignorant tribesmen who violate etiquette and rules. As far as the author knows, there are roughly three situations: first, those who steal and do evil things; second, those who do not respect the elderly and love the young; third, those who have no etiquette and despise customs and habits. . In the first case, the respected elders of the clan will publicize what they have done. Afterwards, reputable people from each branch and clan called the perpetrators and their relatives to the main ancestral hall, while most of the clan members watched. He was asked to state his crime in front of everyone, and at the same time write a letter of guarantee to promise not to commit it again in the future. In order to serve as a warning and punishment, he was asked to take off his shirt and kneel in front of the ancestral tablet. His father tied three thin bamboo strips into a handful and whipped him on his back until the skin opened and bled. Finally, everyone stepped forward to rescue him and set off firecrackers to show that the tribe had forgiven him and hoped that he would change his ways. At the end of the ceremony, the elders also solemnly asked everyone not to discuss the matter again in the future, and to treat those who were punished equally. treat. For the second and third cases, the punishment ceremony is a little milder. It is also organized by the elders of the clan. The punished person is required to kneel in front of the ancestral tablet in the ancestral hall, repent and reflect, admit his mistake in front of all the clan members, and guarantee To correct mistakes, the entire clan must be its supervisors and witnesses.
The unique ancestral hall rituals of Bailu Village involve all aspects of community life. They play an important role in the healthy operation of the entire community. They can be roughly summarized in the following three points:
Chapter First, enhance group cohesion and strengthen group members’ sense of identity and belonging to the group.
The ancestor worship ceremonies and sedan chairs held by the clan can periodically bring the clan members together, making them realize the connection between themselves and the clan group, and further affirming the clan group. existential value and strengthen the internal unity of the clan. The punishment ceremony can make each clan member realize that everyone is equal in the clan, realize the clan's generosity and kindness to every clan member, and enhance the clan's identity and sense of belonging to the clan.
Second, constrain members’ behavior and ensure group norms.
The most obvious one is the disciplinary ceremony in the ancestral hall. Some of the simplest moral and ethical concepts are spread through such a performance ceremony in front of the public, while also maintaining the tribe's respect for moral and ethical norms. I don't dare to test the law easily. The tribesmen have internalized it as their own behavioral norms, which play a role in all aspects of their lives, ensuring the implementation of group norms to the best extent possible.
Third, sublimate the spiritual realm of members and promote group mobilization.
In the atmosphere of such a collective ritual, everything about oneself, such as selfishness, inferiority, timidity, etc., are greatly weakened or even abandoned. Just like some kind of religious ceremony, it guides people's spiritual yearning for a beautiful realm, takes beautiful conduct and cultivation as the standard of their words and deeds, and strives to improve their own ideological realm. This series of rituals can mobilize the members of the entire clan, and at the same time, it mobilizes the resources of the entire clan, which is very beneficial to the clan's goal of achieving fairness.
In summary, we found that the ancestral hall ceremony in Bailu Village is not just a few simple customs and habits. The entire clan is organized in an orderly manner through the ancestral hall ceremony, and various rituals play a role in community life. with their respective functions. They enhance the cohesion of the entire clan, strengthen the tribesmen's identity and sense of belonging to the clan; constrain members' behavior and ensure group norms; at the same time, they sublimate the spiritual realm of members and promote group mobilization.
It can be seen from this that when we come into contact with a culture, we must fully explore the hidden meanings and functions behind various group rituals, and understand the impact of group rituals on multi-dimensional disciplines such as anthropology, sociology, history, etc. The influence and role of groups and their members.
References
[1] (U.S.) Franz Boas. Anthropology and Modern Life [M]. Translated by Liu Sha, et al. Beijing: Huaxia Publishing House Society, 1999.
[2] Emile Durkheim. Basic Forms of Religious Life [M]. Translated by Qu Dong, Ji?, Shanghai: Shanghai People's Publishing House, 1999.
[3] Guo Yuhua. Ritual and Social Change[M]. Beijing: Social Science Literature Press, 2000.
[4] Zhong Xianze. Talking about Egret[Z]. Gan County CPPCC, 1999.
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Research on the impact of Hakka culture on Hakka economy
Abstract This article briefly discusses the impact of Hakka culture on Hakka economy through the theories of North and Grave. Economic impact, it was found that the lack of collectivism and business spirit in Hakka culture made it impossible to establish efficient organizations and the Hakka economic order could not effectively expand.
Keywords Hakka culture Hakka economy influence
Culture and economic performance have always been a fascinating topic in economic research. North emphasized that culture determines institutional changes and institutions affect economic performance. Grave used a comparative institutional perspective to convert cultural beliefs into endogenous beliefs, and used game theory to prove that different cultural environments affect people's behavior, and that differences in transaction costs under different behaviors lead to differences in organizational form and performance. So there is no doubt about the impact of culture on the economy. Guangdong is a typical example of culture affecting economic performance. Since the reform and opening up, Guangdong's economy has experienced considerable development, but the differences between regions have significantly expanded, and the imbalance of development between regions has become increasingly prominent, especially in the Hakka region and the Pearl River Delta region. The economic differences are particularly prominent. It is necessary to analyze the culture of the Hakka region, and strive to analyze what is suitable for economic development and what hinders economic performance in Hakka culture. It is beneficial to the long-term development of the Hakka region to abandon traditional culture.
1. The definition and main manifestations of Hakka culture
American cultural anthropologists A. L. Kroeber and K. Colakhoun define culture this way: Culture exists in various implicit and explicit patterns, learned and transmitted through the use of symbols, and constitute the special achievements of human groups, including the various specific styles in which they make objects. The basic elements of culture are traditional ideas and values ??(derived through history and selection), among which values ??are the most important. The Hakka people migrated from the Central Plains. As they integrated with the local area, they formed their own unique cultural characteristics through exchanges. The ancestors of the Hakka people mostly lived in the "Old Land of the Central Plains". In order to avoid war, they constantly migrated southward. They once migrated to Anhui, Jiangxi and other places, and later moved from Tingzhou and Jiangxi in Fujian to the mountainous areas in northeastern Guangdong. Hakka culture presents the cultural characteristics of mountainous areas. The development history of the Hakka area in northeastern Guangdong is a history of the development of mountainous areas. In order to find a way out, Hakka men study hard to seek fame and go out to make a living, which puts the burden of social production on the shoulders of women. Women are engaged in woodcutting, animal husbandry, irrigation, sewing, and cooking. This is a unique characteristic of the Hakka people. Something special. Hakka culture is essentially an agricultural culture. The characteristic of traditional farming culture is self-sufficiency and emphasis on fame. Commonly known as the farming and reading heirloom. In fact, focusing on fame is a passive choice and corresponding reaction under self-sufficiency. In the traditional natural economy, the products produced are similar and the benefits from trade are limited. Therefore, focusing on fame is one of the ways to seek higher returns. If we say that the Hakka people who migrated from the Central Plains have a strong sense of family and country feelings and loyalty.
2. The ways in which Hakka culture affects the economy
Greif (1994) explained the relationship between culture and economic growth from the perspective of cultural beliefs, social organizations and institutional arrangements. He believes that: (1) The economic system is composed of two related factors: cultural beliefs and organization. Since cultural beliefs are uncoordinated expectations, the changes of the economic system are affected by its history; (2) The reason why the institutional structure is Path dependence is shown because past behaviors, cultural beliefs, social structures and organizations all influence the development of values ??and social implementation mechanisms, thus suppressing the flexibility to deviate from old behavioral patterns. Domestic scholar Weisen (2003) followed Grave's ideas and systematically studied the cultural factors on which the planned economic system and the market economic system depend for their survival, as well as the impact of different cultural traditions on the social system structure, and pointed out that the collectivism believed in in Chinese history Cultural factors determine the involution (deep path dependence) of China's social system changes, while the cultural factors of individualism in Western societies determine the extroversion (evolution) of Western social system changes. Different cultural traditions lead to different The change paths have also formed different growth paths. The individualistic cultural factor in Western culture is a necessary condition (although not a sufficient condition) for the modern market economy in Europe and the United States.
The Hakka culture based on farming culture undoubtedly has collectivist elements, while the Hakka culture based on seeking official positions makes the Hakka culture lack a commercial atmosphere. Considering that economic activities are activities between people, market expansion is a natural result of the broadening and deepening of the scope of people's transaction activities. In the final analysis, the economic prosperity and social development of any country and region in modern and contemporary history are only It is just an external manifestation of market expansion. Since market economic activities are ultimately just a collection of people's exchange of goods and services, the business spirit and motivations of market participants have become the deepest or fundamental motivation for the expansion of market order and economic development. .
From the perspective of institutional economics, institutions are indeed important to economic growth and social development. However, the environment is necessary for the system to function, and culture and its atmosphere are extremely important. Just like the puzzle mentioned by historian Bradel, only in a certain cultural atmosphere can some basic institutions of the market economy exert their influence on the economy. Inspiring effects on growth and social development. This has also resulted in systems of the same nature having different function chains and performances in different cultural traditions and social spiritual heritage, and sometimes the differences are very large. The lack of commerciality in Hakka culture weakens the incentive effect of the market economy. On the other hand, according to Greif (1993) North's thinking, the collectivism and emphasis on officialdom in Hakka culture make Hakka organizations have a serious bureaucracy, and bureaucracy undoubtedly reduces the efficiency of the organization. According to North, the core of economic growth is efficient organization.
To sum up, we found that the collectivism and farming education of Hakka culture hindered the expansion of the market and the formation of efficient organizations, ultimately leading to inefficient economic performance.
References:
[1] Luo Xianglin; "Introduction to Hakka Studies".
[2] Weisen; "Reflecting on Eastern and Western Markets from Cultural Traditions" "The Modern Formation Path of Economy". Published in "World Economy" 2002 (10).
[3] He Dongxia? He Yiming: "Culture and Institutions: A Review of Literature" "Academic Research", 2006 (10) .
[4] North, "Structure and Change in Economic History 6", Chinese version, pages 49~~65, Shanghai, Shanghai Joint Publishing House, Shanghai People's Publishing House, 1994.
[5] Greif: "The Great Fission" CITIC Publishing House, 2001.
[6] Weisen; "The Creative Transformation from Traditional Qilu Farming Culture to Modern Business Spirit" "Dongyue Theory" Cong》2004 (6). ;