China Home Guardian - (Folk Belief) - (Illustrated Version)

Author: Wang Zuojie
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2007-01-01
Features: The belief in domestic guardian deities is a folk custom that has formed through long-term production and daily life. In front of the gods and buddhas they have created, people pray for health and longevity, happy marriages, career success, disaster relief, disease prevention, continuity of lineage, and all things going well. This should be beyond reproach. In life, who doesn’t wish for good fortune, smoothness, and everything going as planned? No one wants to cause trouble, seek unhappiness, or look for trouble unnecessarily. The belief in domestic guardian deities is precisely to satisfy people’s such psychological needs. Healthy folk customs are even more beneficial for people’s physical and mental well-being. Throughout the long course of history, every domestic guardian deity created by our ancestors has its own legendary stories and distinct characteristics, and has been endowed with its own protective functions. This is also an embodiment of folk culture. This folk culture possesses strong vitality and appeal, which is why it has been accepted and passed down through the ages. The historical heritage of this culture is extremely valuable, and we should cherish it. At the same time, it is also a resource. We can develop and utilize this folk culture for exchanges with domestic and international partners, seek business opportunities, and promote the development of the tourism industry. Although this folk field culture may seem a bit rustic and somewhat vulgar at first glance, only great rusticity can lead to greatness, only great vulgarity can lead to elegance, and only what is national can be global.