Liaogan: A Folk Religious Practice in Northwest China

Abstract

As the concluding activity of the Spring Festival in Northwest China, Liaogan is a distinctive local folk religious practice. This article, taking Qingyang City, Gansu Province, as a case study, employs anthropological fieldwork methods to present the entire process of the Liaogan ritual, trace its historical development and folk cultural connotations, and analysis the role of Liaogan in shaping social cohesion and the daily lives of Northwest people. The paper posits that Liaogan originates from humanity's shared belief in fire and the god of fire, representing a remnant of primitive religious beliefs. The purpose of Liaogan is to ward off evil, eliminate diseases and disasters, and fulfill people's hopes for a bountiful harvest. In this beautiful prayer process, a daily social function of purifying the soul and maintaining social relationships manifests itself in seemingly unconscious activities and continues to serve a symbolic social function in modern society.