CHINESE FOLK RELIGION IN MACAO : RITUALISM OR RELIEF?澳門的中國民間信仰：儀式主義或精神寄托？
The article examines the devotion to the Chinese deity of syncretized origin Nezha in Macau, asking to what extent the popular religion practiced there functions more as "ritualism" (i.e., formal repetition of prescriptions and fulfillment of expectations) or as "relief" (the affective and therapeut...
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| Published in: | Review of Culture |
|---|---|
| Main Author: | |
| Format: | Articles |
| Published: |
Instituto Cultural de Macau
2014
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.icm.gov.mo/rc/viewer/pdfViewerParts/40048/2349 |
| _version_ | 1877196270094778368 |
|---|---|
| author | Rex Wilson |
| author_autocomplete | Rex Wilson |
| author_browse | Rex Wilson |
| author_facet | Rex Wilson Rex Wilson |
| author_sort | Rex Wilson |
| container_title | Review of Culture |
| container_title_str | Review of Culture |
| container_volume | 48 |
| container_volume_str | 48 |
| description | The article examines the devotion to the Chinese deity of syncretized origin Nezha in Macau, asking to what extent the popular religion practiced there functions more as "ritualism" (i.e., formal repetition of prescriptions and fulfillment of expectations) or as "relief" (the affective and therapeutic dimension of belief). Based on an interpretive reading of traditional narratives associated with the cult—especially the popular plot of *Fengshen yanyi* and its variants—the author shifts the focus from scholarly sources to the contemporary meaning of the images, objects, and stories that circulate in the local context. The text characterizes the cult through Nezha's iconographic attributes (his magical weapons and endowments) and shows how these elements condense moral values, risk management, and conflict resolution, offering devotees a framework of meaning for dealing with everyday anxieties. The conclusions suggest that, although religious practice in Macau preserves stabilized ritual forms, its main social effect lies in the ability of belief to provide "relief" through narratives of protection, responsibility, and supernatural intervention, converting ritual into an emotionally significant experience. |
| first_indexed | 2026-09-11T02:56:58Z |
| 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 |
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| issn | 1682-1106 |
| last_indexed | 2026-09-11T02:56:58Z |
| latest_content_date | 2026-09-11T02:56:58Z |
| publishDate | 2014 |
| publishDateRange | 2014 |
| publishDateSort | 2014 |
| publishPlace | Macau |
| publisher | Instituto Cultural de Macau |
| publisherStr | Instituto Cultural de Macau |
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| spelling | CHINESE FOLK RELIGION IN MACAO : RITUALISM OR RELIEF?澳門的中國民間信仰：儀式主義或精神寄托？ The article examines the devotion to the Chinese deity of syncretized origin Nezha in Macau, asking to what extent the popular religion practiced there functions more as "ritualism" (i.e., formal repetition of prescriptions and fulfillment of expectations) or as "relief" (the affective and therapeutic dimension of belief). Based on an interpretive reading of traditional narratives associated with the cult—especially the popular plot of *Fengshen yanyi* and its variants—the author shifts the focus from scholarly sources to the contemporary meaning of the images, objects, and stories that circulate in the local context. The text characterizes the cult through Nezha's iconographic attributes (his magical weapons and endowments) and shows how these elements condense moral values, risk management, and conflict resolution, offering devotees a framework of meaning for dealing with everyday anxieties. The conclusions suggest that, although religious practice in Macau preserves stabilized ritual forms, its main social effect lies in the ability of belief to provide "relief" through narratives of protection, responsibility, and supernatural intervention, converting ritual into an emotionally significant experience. Instituto Cultural de Macau Macau Review of Culture Articles 2014 Rex Wilson |
| spellingShingle | CHINESE FOLK RELIGION IN MACAO : RITUALISM OR RELIEF?澳門的中國民間信仰：儀式主義或精神寄托？ Rex Wilson |
| title | CHINESE FOLK RELIGION IN MACAO : RITUALISM OR RELIEF?澳門的中國民間信仰：儀式主義或精神寄托？ |
| title_autocomplete | CHINESE FOLK RELIGION IN MACAO : RITUALISM OR RELIEF?澳門的中國民間信仰：儀式主義或精神寄托？ |
| title_full | CHINESE FOLK RELIGION IN MACAO : RITUALISM OR RELIEF?澳門的中國民間信仰：儀式主義或精神寄托？ |
| title_fullStr | CHINESE FOLK RELIGION IN MACAO : RITUALISM OR RELIEF?澳門的中國民間信仰：儀式主義或精神寄托？ |
| title_full_unstemmed | CHINESE FOLK RELIGION IN MACAO : RITUALISM OR RELIEF?澳門的中國民間信仰：儀式主義或精神寄托？ |
| title_short | CHINESE FOLK RELIGION IN MACAO : RITUALISM OR RELIEF?澳門的中國民間信仰：儀式主義或精神寄托？ |
| title_sort | chinese folk religion in macao : ritualism or relief?澳門的中國民間信仰：儀式主義或精神寄托？ |
| url | https://www.icm.gov.mo/rc/viewer/pdfViewerParts/40048/2349 |
| zotero_collection_key | 76L3BRGH |