侗族宗教初探：逝去的親人

侗族宗教初探

The Religion of Dong Ethnic Group

第四章：逝去的親人

Chapter Four: Passed Families

鼓樓下閑聊的侗族老人

Chating Dong elder men under a drum tower

死亡，一個自古以來就令人畏懼的字眼。無論富貴貧賤，沒有人能夠避免生命的終結，因此大家也為死後的世界充滿遐想。古埃及文明相信來生，認為人死後進入冥界接受神明的審判；美索不達米亞文明認為人死後便永久消失；西方文明認為人死後與上帝相見，他會決定每個人前往天堂或地獄；佛教認為生命是一個無盡的輪迴，人死了便投胎開始下一段生命。大多數人對於死亡是恐懼的，因為沒有人真正知道死後面對的是什麼，是來生還是化為虛有？無人能夠得到確切的答案。但是，正因為每個人固有一死，死亡在侗族人民的眼裡變成了順其自然的生命歷程。侗族人積極的死亡觀展現給我們這個民族的倔強，樂觀和務實的生活態度：向死而生。

Death, a word of horror since antiquity. No matter who you are, no-one can avoid the end of our lives. Therefore, people always imagine the world after death. Ancient Egyptians believe in afterlife, they think people are judged in front of gods after their death; Mesopotamians believe our souls come to an end after death; the Western Society believes that people meet God after death, he will decide if one will be in heaven or hell for eternity; Buddhism believes life is an infinite cycle, every cycle begins in each life. Most people are afraid of death, because no one feels certain about what to face after death. Is it heaven, and other life, or nothing? No one has the proved answer. However, for Dong people, since everyone has to face death, it becomes an easy word that comes to every creature"s life journey.

在清水江以南的侗寨里，每個嬰兒生下來時，其父母便為他們栽種一棵樹，這棵樹伴隨孩子長大。待到五十歲的時候，人們把父母為自己種的樹木砍下，做成自己的棺材。侗族人對死亡的看待十分從容，他們認為大家死後靈魂回到自然，與祖先一起守望自己的後代。他們也並不介意大家看到或者討論自己的棺材，通常將棺材放在空位處，比如自家的糧倉下面。對於其他文化來說，棺材是大家忌諱的東西，但是侗族村寨里到處擺滿了棺材，為寨子形成了與眾不同的點綴。

In the villages south of Qingshui River, parents of every infant always plant a tree for their baby. This tree grows with the child; when the child turns to the age of 50, he/she will cut the tree down and make a coffin with it. Dong people treat death leisurely, they believe everyone"s soul will come back to mother nature after life. They do not mind discussing each person"s coffin either. Coffins are usually placed in where ever is convenient; such as beneath the family granary. In other cultures, coffin is usually a taboo topic. However, there are coffins placed everywhere in Dong Villages, which form a distinctive landscape.

與漢族一樣，侗族也強調入土為安，人們死後必定葬在土地里。土地養育了人們的一生，入土的習俗也表達了對自然的敬畏與感恩。人們出身於泥土，死後身體回歸到泥土之間，與日月同輝，與子孫同在。

Same as Han people, Dong people also emphasize burial under the earth. The soil has been carrying everyone"s life, it is believed that letting body return to the earth is a respect and admiration for nature. For Dong people, we are all born out of earth, and our body will go back to earth after life. As a part of soil, our body will keep feeding and supporting our descendants.

露天的棺材，地捫村

Coffins in Dimen Village

儲藏在糧倉下的棺材，登岑村

Coffins under granaries in Dencen Village

儲藏在糧倉下的棺材，登岑村

Coffins under granaries in Dencen Village

清水江以南的祖先崇拜

Ancestral Worship in Southern Region

在清水江南部的侗族聚落與外界溝通較少，受到漢族文化影響不及北方。南方侗族的祭祖行為十分簡樸，通常在自家房屋內進行。據侗族村民介紹，每年春節都會敬備香燭貢品，祭祀祖先。在年夜飯的餐桌上，必留一處空位，筷子與酒招待祖宗靈魂。祖宗神位處於民居堂屋正中，可見祖先對於人們重要的地位。

There is less contact between southern villages and the outside world; therefore it has gained fewer influences from other parts of China. Southern Dong people has a simple way of worshipping ancestors, the ritual usually happens in family"s house. According to Dong villagers, people prepare incense and candles for their ancestors during lunar new years. There must be an empty seat on the new year dinner table that is reserved for the passed family members. Ancestors" niche is placed in the middle of the central front room, which shows an important status among the family.

位於榕江縣千寶侗寨的祖宗神龕，對聯上書寫「孝父母自然富貴，敬祖宗必定繁華」。

A niche in a house at Qianbao Dong Village, Rongjiang County. The couplet of niche writes: "Piety to parents leads to wealth, Admiration to ancestors leads to prosperity."

侗族認為自己的長輩死了以後，居處冥界，但仍能保一家昌盛，富貴榮發，因而十分注重喪葬事宜。（1）去世的親人通常被葬在充滿了裝飾如同宮殿一般的墓地里，這些墓地便是死人靈魂的居所。

Dong people think when their elder family dies, his/her soul lives in mysterious spiritual regions, which helps to keep family prosperous and wealthy. Therefore, they consider burials as an important affair.(1)Dead families are usually buried in a highly decorative graveyard with an appearance of a palace, those palaces symbolize dwelling places for dead people.

地捫村的墓葬，雕樑畫棟，十分精緻，代表了靈魂的居住之地。

Graveyards in Dimen village, this decorated stone palace represent the living place for dead ancestors.

除了祖宗的崇拜，侗族人對長者也十分尊敬。年老的村民們通常聚集在鼓樓下社交，與孩子們玩耍，他們在一切事物上有更多的話語權，所有的後輩都必須聽從長輩的安排。在餐桌上也只有長輩開始動筷，大家才能用餐。

Besides ancestor worship, Dong people are very respectful toward elders as well. Elders usually socialize under drum towers and play with little kids. Those elder people have more privileges giving orders, all younger people have to listen to their instructions. On a dinner table, you can only move your chopsticks after the oldest family member』s permission.

南部侗族崇拜祖先不會修建如北部地區那樣精美華麗的祠堂，但是其點點滴滴的行為舉止對家庭十分重要。對南部地區的侗族人來說，只要遵守前輩制定的倫理，即使沒有高大氣派的建築雕塑也毫無關係，所謂「心誠則靈」。

Southern Dong People do not build fancy temples for their ancestors. However, each action and behavior is important to the family. For southern Dong people, it does not matter whether there is an elegant place to worship. Fancy structures do not matter as long as people behave sincerely and faithfully.

參考文獻：

Citations:

1.《侗族文化大觀》貴州民族出版社2016年6月第一版，第十五章：宗教信仰，324頁，貴州省民族事務委員會編。The Culture of Dong Ethnic Group, Guizhou Nationality Publishing House, the first edition of June 2016, the fifteenth chapter: religious belief, Page41, by the Guizhou Ethnic Affair Commission.

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