IN SEARCH OF FOLK HUMOR. THE REBELLIOUS CULT OF NEZHA IN MACAO探尋民間幽默：澳門之哪吒反叛崇拜
The article examines how the popular cult of Nezha 哪吒, the "prince"/child god often characterized as rebellious and eccentric, took root in Macau and how its forms of devotion reflect the circulation between religious traditions and concrete social needs. Drawing on legendary narratives and historic...
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| Published in: | Review of Culture |
|---|---|
| Main Author: | |
| Format: | Articles |
| Published: |
Instituto Cultural de Macau
April 2007
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.icm.gov.mo/rc/viewer/pdfViewerParts/40022/3714 |
| _version_ | 1877196270912667648 |
|---|---|
| author | Christina Miu Bing Cheng |
| author_autocomplete | Christina Miu Bing Cheng |
| author_browse | Christina Miu Bing Cheng |
| author_facet | Christina Miu Bing Cheng Christina Miu Bing Cheng |
| author_sort | Christina Miu Bing Cheng |
| container_title | Review of Culture |
| container_title_str | Review of Culture |
| container_volume | 22 |
| container_volume_str | 22 |
| description | The article examines how the popular cult of Nezha 哪吒, the "prince"/child god often characterized as rebellious and eccentric, took root in Macau and how its forms of devotion reflect the circulation between religious traditions and concrete social needs. Drawing on legendary narratives and historical evidence associated with two temples dedicated to Nezha, the author argues that the development of the cult cannot be understood merely as a continuation of Chinese mythology, but rather as a practice of local reinterpretation. Methodologically, the analysis articulates competing versions of the apparition legend (including an episode described as witnessed by both local residents and a Portuguese woman) with records of the cult's founding and institutional reconfiguration, particularly following epidemic outbreaks. The findings highlight that, in 1898, the miraculous survival of the inhabitants of the Morro do Diabo/Carvalho area—associated with "Morro do Marmelo" 柿山—spurred pilgrimages, donations, and the expansion of the temple, converting myth into a mechanism of consolation and healing. The conclusion is that Nezha functions as a liminal deity, recognized by Daoist and Buddhist practices, and whose devotion in Macau materializes folkloric "humor" and community agency in contexts of crisis. |
| first_indexed | 2026-09-11T02:56:54Z |
| format | Articles |
| genre | Articles |
| genre_facet | Articles |
| hierarchy_browse | Review of Culture{{{_ID_}}}zotero-coll-76L3BRGH |
| hierarchy_parent_id | zotero-coll-76L3BRGH |
| hierarchy_parent_title | Review of Culture |
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| hierarchy_top_title | News |
| hierarchytype | Default |
| id | zotero-85XFNDYQ |
| institution | zotero_group |
| issn | 1682-1106 |
| last_indexed | 2026-09-11T02:56:54Z |
| latest_content_date | 2026-09-11T02:56:54Z |
| publishDate | April 2007 |
| publishDateRange | 2007 |
| publishDateSort | 2007 |
| publishPlace | Macau |
| publisher | Instituto Cultural de Macau |
| publisherStr | Instituto Cultural de Macau |
| record_format | zotero |
| spelling | IN SEARCH OF FOLK HUMOR. THE REBELLIOUS CULT OF NEZHA IN MACAO探尋民間幽默：澳門之哪吒反叛崇拜 The article examines how the popular cult of Nezha 哪吒, the "prince"/child god often characterized as rebellious and eccentric, took root in Macau and how its forms of devotion reflect the circulation between religious traditions and concrete social needs. Drawing on legendary narratives and historical evidence associated with two temples dedicated to Nezha, the author argues that the development of the cult cannot be understood merely as a continuation of Chinese mythology, but rather as a practice of local reinterpretation. Methodologically, the analysis articulates competing versions of the apparition legend (including an episode described as witnessed by both local residents and a Portuguese woman) with records of the cult's founding and institutional reconfiguration, particularly following epidemic outbreaks. The findings highlight that, in 1898, the miraculous survival of the inhabitants of the Morro do Diabo/Carvalho area—associated with "Morro do Marmelo" 柿山—spurred pilgrimages, donations, and the expansion of the temple, converting myth into a mechanism of consolation and healing. The conclusion is that Nezha functions as a liminal deity, recognized by Daoist and Buddhist practices, and whose devotion in Macau materializes folkloric "humor" and community agency in contexts of crisis. Instituto Cultural de Macau Macau Review of Culture Articles April 2007 Christina Miu Bing Cheng |
| spellingShingle | IN SEARCH OF FOLK HUMOR. THE REBELLIOUS CULT OF NEZHA IN MACAO探尋民間幽默：澳門之哪吒反叛崇拜 Christina Miu Bing Cheng |
| title | IN SEARCH OF FOLK HUMOR. THE REBELLIOUS CULT OF NEZHA IN MACAO探尋民間幽默：澳門之哪吒反叛崇拜 |
| title_autocomplete | IN SEARCH OF FOLK HUMOR. THE REBELLIOUS CULT OF NEZHA IN MACAO探尋民間幽默：澳門之哪吒反叛崇拜 |
| title_full | IN SEARCH OF FOLK HUMOR. THE REBELLIOUS CULT OF NEZHA IN MACAO探尋民間幽默：澳門之哪吒反叛崇拜 |
| title_fullStr | IN SEARCH OF FOLK HUMOR. THE REBELLIOUS CULT OF NEZHA IN MACAO探尋民間幽默：澳門之哪吒反叛崇拜 |
| title_full_unstemmed | IN SEARCH OF FOLK HUMOR. THE REBELLIOUS CULT OF NEZHA IN MACAO探尋民間幽默：澳門之哪吒反叛崇拜 |
| title_short | IN SEARCH OF FOLK HUMOR. THE REBELLIOUS CULT OF NEZHA IN MACAO探尋民間幽默：澳門之哪吒反叛崇拜 |
| title_sort | in search of folk humor. the rebellious cult of nezha in macao探尋民間幽默：澳門之哪吒反叛崇拜 |
| url | https://www.icm.gov.mo/rc/viewer/pdfViewerParts/40022/3714 |
| zotero_collection_key | 76L3BRGH |