The implementation of the rural revitalization strategy is a major decision and deployment made at the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, and the “rural style and civilization” is an important content embedded in the general requirements of the “rural revitalization strategy”. Folk beliefs have an important impact on the construction of rural civilization, and preserve the fine national spirit and cultural tradition. The work of folk belief is the highlight and brand of Jiaxing’s folk religion work. Jiaxing’s folk religion departments at all levels actively guide and manage the work, so that folk belief can play a greater role in the construction of rural civilization.
1、 Strengthen standardized management to ensure that folk beliefs are consistent with civilization construction
Since 2013, under the high attention of the municipal party committee and the municipal government and the specific guidance of the United Front Work Department of the provincial party committee and the provincial people’s religious committee, Jiaxing people’s religious department has focused on the comprehensive improvement of folk belief sites, and taken the registration number management as a breakthrough point to overcome difficulties and move forward through the ice. By taking the “four in a batch” initiative, 413 folk belief sites have been demolished, merged and used instead. There are 576 existing folk belief venues, of which 329 were included in the registration number management in 2015, 2016 and 2018, accounting for 57.1%. In addition, 247 folk belief venues were explicitly included in the scope of comprehensive social governance in the form of “list assignment”, accounting for 42.9%. The classified management of folk belief venues was fully completed, becoming one of the typical areas of harmonious and stable folk belief ecological environment in the province.
2、 Optimize system construction and promote the integration of activity venues and civilization system
Jiaxing has established and improved the folk belief working mechanism led by the government, under the centralized management of the civil and religious departments, with relevant departments performing their respective duties and daily management of the town (street), and made it clear that the civil and religious departments are responsible for policy formulation and guidance, place registration number, activity supervision and management, etc; The town (sub district) is responsible for the daily management of folk belief affairs, defining the leaders in charge, determining that the Social Affairs Management Office or other relevant institutions should be specifically responsible for this work, implementing the work force, and assigning responsibilities to specific people. The villagers’ (residents’) committee shall assist in the management of daily affairs and assign special personnel to take charge of them; All relevant departments shall supervise and administer according to law within the scope of their respective duties. The folk belief activity places were included in the grid management of the whole department, the creation of “civilized folk belief activity places” was widely carried out, the democratic management organization and various rules and regulations of the places were improved, the role of township rules and regulations was played, the management responsibilities and measures were implemented, and the safety of the places in terms of fire protection, finance, activities and personnel was ensured.
3、 Deepen connotation excavation and promote the combination of faith inheritance and civilization spirit
In accordance with the relevant requirements of the provincial Folk Custom · Colorful Zhejiang Theme Cultural Activity, the city’s civil and religious departments adhere to the socialist core values as the guide, deeply tap the contemporary cultural value of folk beliefs, strive to improve the cultural connotation of folk beliefs, govern according to customs, use “old bottles to pack new wine”, let folk beliefs into the “red gene”, and constantly improve the quality of folk belief culture. With the theme of Jiangnan temple fair and fishing custom culture, we fully tap the resources of temple fair culture, fishing custom culture, water resource culture and the local culture at the borders of Zhejiang and Jiangsu, and accurately refine the core psychological ideas of “patriotism”, “ecology”, “harmony”, “friendship”, etc. contained in folk beliefs. Next, in accordance with the Opinions on the Implementation of the Inheritance and Development Project of Chinese Excellent Traditional Culture issued by the Central and State Offices, Jiaxing will take the folk belief cultural activities as one of the important contents of the inheritance and development of Chinese excellent culture, continue to promote the Jiaxing Folk Belief Investigation and Research project in cooperation with the Institute of History of the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, and complete the compilation of the series of folk belief activities “One Place, One Story” as planned.