Popular Religion and the Formation of Local Culture——Research on the Belief in Ge Xian'gong in Northeastern Jiangxi since the Song and Yuan Dynasties

Abstract: The cult of Ge Xian'gong("葛仙公") in Northeast Jiangxi originated from the worship of immortals within Geshi Daoism in the Jiangnan region during the Six Dynasties. During the Song and Yuan Dynasties, driven by the prominence of the Lingbao School of Daoism in Jiangxi, this cult spread to Mount Gexian in Yanshan and other locations, serving functions such as healing and rainmaking. In the early Ming Dynasty, Ge Xian'gong was incorporated into the official Register of Sacrifices("祀典") of Guangxin Prefecture, ensuring the continuity of the cult. By the mid- Ming, promoted by local officials and social elites, Ge Xian'gong's image as a regional protector was reinforced, and he became the termly worshipped "Patron Deity"("福主") of Yanshan. During the early Qing, following a massive influx of immigrants into Northeast Jiangxi, the cult was utilized by local officials to maintain social order. By the mid-Qing, official authorities withdrew from sacrificial activities at Mount Gexian, and the cult became increasingly popularized. Believers from various regions initiated spontaneous pilgrimages, giving rise to the large-scale "Opening the Mountain Gate"("开山门") ceremonies. This developed into a cultural form that complied with state ideology while retaining distinctive local characteristics. This study suggests that the evolution of the Ge Xian'gong cult since the Song and Yuan periods is the combined result of market demand, "the invention of tradition", and state power. Rather than a unidirectional process of "standardization " or "orthodoxy-building", it can be described as the ecological niche competition mode of popular religious propagation in civilized regions.