The Metaphor of Fox in China

Better and Better                                                                                                Day 56

      Today we will learn an interesting topic, Fox Worship. Fox Worship has been prevalent for long in Chinese civil society, but is not officially allowed. In the secular society, the metaphor of the fox conveys the consciousness of the people underground. For example, the rural areas in North-east China lacked the gentry class and clan authority of traditional agricultural society, and the fox worship was especially developed. The fox and weasel, which are enshrined in the family, are called BaoJiaXian and can protect the believers’ family. Take the metaphor of fox into the real world : they behave both right and wrong, wander in a moral gray zone. Therefore, fox was regarded as the protection god of actors and prostitutes to convey the aspirations.       

      今天我們來學習一個有趣的主題，狐仙崇拜。狐仙崇拜長期盛行于中國民間社會，但不被官方允許。在世俗社會，狐狸的隱喻所表達的是一種底層人的意識。比如，東北農村缺少傳統農業社會的士紳階層和宗族權威，狐仙崇拜也就特別發達。家内供奉的狐狸、黃鼠狼被稱爲“保家仙”，能保護信徒一家。把狐狸的隱喻還原到現實世界：它們的行爲亦正亦邪，游走在道德的灰色地帶。所以，狐仙常常被戲子、妓女當作保護神，用來傳達底層社會的情緒。 

                                                                                                            Oct.19th ,2018                                                                                                                    Bazhou.