中国西南地区的焚香和仪式植物使用：以沙溪白族为例的案例研究。

Incense and ritual plant use in Southwest China: a case study among the Bai in Shaxi.

机构信息

Institute of Systematic Botany, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.

出版信息

J Ethnobiol Ethnomed. 2011 Dec 13;7:43. doi: 10.1186/1746-4269-7-43.

DOI:10.1186/1746-4269-7-43

PMID:22165897

原文链接:https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3292474/

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Ritual and religious uses of plant-derived smoke are widespread throughout the world. Our research focuses on Southwest China, where the use of incense is very common. This study aims to document and analyze contemporary ritual plant uses by the Bai people of Shaxi Township (Jianchuan County, Dali Prefecture, Yunnan Province), including their related ethnobotanical knowledge, practices, and beliefs.

METHODS

The present study builds on previous ethnobotanical research in Shaxi, which started in 2005. Interviews focusing on ritual plant use and associated beliefs were carried out with a total of 44 Bai informants in September 2009 and May and June 2010. The results are supplemented with information on the local religion collected from June to December 2010. All documented species were vouchered, and are deposited at the herbaria of Kunming Institute of Botany (KUN) and the University of Zurich (Z/ZT).

RESULTS

A total of 17 species have been documented for use in incense. They are always used in mixtures and are either burned in the form of powders in a censer or as joss sticks. The smell of the smoke is the main criterion for the selection of the incense plants. Incense is burned for communication with spiritual entities at graves, temples, and cooking stoves, as well as for personal well-being. Cupressus funebris Endl., Gaultheria fragrantissima Wall., and Ligustrum sempervirens (Franch.) Lingelsh. are the most important incense species. Others serve as substitutes or are used to stretch incense powders.

CONCLUSIONS

In Shaxi the use of incense mixtures at the household and community level is regularly practiced for communication with ancestors, ghosts, and deities and in some cases to strengthen self-awareness. Some of the documented species are widely used in central Asia and Europe, hinting at the well documented knowledge exchange that occurred in Shaxi, which was a major hub along the influential Southern Silk Road.

摘要

背景

世界各地广泛存在着将植物源性烟雾用于仪式和宗教的现象。我们的研究聚焦于中国西南部，该地区焚香习俗非常普遍。本研究旨在记录和分析沙溪乡（大理州剑川县）白族人的当代仪式植物用途，包括相关的民族植物学知识、实践和信仰。

方法

本研究建立在沙溪之前的民族植物学研究基础上，该研究始于 2005 年。2009 年 9 月以及 2010 年 5 月和 6 月，我们对 44 位白族受访者进行了重点关注仪式植物用途及相关信仰的访谈。研究结果还补充了 2010 年 6 月至 12 月期间收集的关于当地宗教的信息。所有记录的物种均已凭证化，并保存在昆明植物研究所（KUN）和苏黎世大学（Z/ZT）的标本馆中。

结果

共记录了 17 种用于制作香的物种。它们总是以混合物的形式使用，要么以香粉的形式在香炉中燃烧，要么以香棒的形式燃烧。烟雾的气味是选择焚香植物的主要标准。在墓地、寺庙和炉灶旁，以及为了个人福祉，人们会焚香以与精神实体进行交流。黑壳楠、清香木和女贞是最重要的焚香物种。其他物种则作为替代品或用于拉伸香粉。