著者

二階堂 善弘

出版者

関西大学東西学術研究所

雑誌

関西大学東西学術研究所紀要 = Bulletin of the Institute of Oriental and Occidental Studies, Kansai University (ISSN:02878151)

巻号頁・発行日

no.54, pp.27-42, 2021-04

---

This article explores the gods of plague and medicine in the Ming and Qing dynasties. With regard to the gods of plague, many are known throughout China, including Wangye (王爺) in Fujian and Taiwan, Yanguang Niangniang (眼光娘娘) in the north, as well as Banchen Niangniang (斑疹娘娘), Tainhua Niangniang (天花娘娘), and other niangniang who drive disease. The numerous Yaowang temples across mainland China attest to the belief in these gods. Concerning rituals, the sending off of the royal ship (送王船) is performed to expel epidemics. With regard to the gods of medicine, the kings of medicine (藥王) include famous doctors such as Bian Que (扁鵲), Sun Simiao (孫思邈), Wei Cicang (韋慈藏), and Hua Tuo (華陀). Emperor Baosheng of Fujian was, for example, a well-known doctor who later became a god of medicine. Fictional characters also display traits of gods, such as Lu Yue (呂岳), who appears in the novel Fengshen Yanyi [封神演義] and resembles a plague god, as well as Marshal Gao (高元帥) and Marshal Zhang (張元帥) of Marshal God, who resemble the gods of medicine.