Communication and Cohension of Community through the Ritual of Communal Temple in Tân Chánh Commune, Cần Đước District, Long An Province
Abstract
The communal temple is a cultural and social institution of traditional Vietnamese village. Therefore, beside cultural studies, explore the meaning of rituals and regional cultural characteristics in rituals, the ritual of communal temple can also be examined in the function of communal cohesion. Based on the survey data of worshiping in the communal temple in Tân Chánh, Cần Đước district, Long An province in the period from 2010 to 2012, this research shows that the current worshiping ceremony, beside the spiritual function, meets the need for strengthening social cohesion. The “communication” network of the communal temples has become a prominent phenomenon in the ritual of communal temple at present. The cohesive factor through exchange activities has not only limited the scope of local community, but it also extends beyond. The economic development of the locality has contributed to the “enhancement of ritual” of the communal temple worshiping
ceremony in the South.