The Old-age Care Participation of Folk Beliefs in Contemporary 

Rural Society

ZHANG Zhuping （Hangzhou Academy of Social Sciences）

 

Abstract:Folk beliefs in China contain the moral power of public charity.Active participation in the construction and action of the public domain of old age care is not only an important choice of the traditional folk belief “transformation and innovation,openness and inclusiveness,formation of synergy”,but also the inherent requirement of self-adjustment of folk belief in contemporary society.It is helpful to inherit cultural gene of moral worship,respect for ancestors and elders,and to promote rural governance system and governance capacity-building.A general survey of old-age care participation at Ximen Palace in L Village of south Zhejiang province shows that folk beliefs can be an important supplement to the official and civil old-age care career.Because of growing among folks,folk beliefs have widely mass feature,and with rich entertainment and strong ethic.Compared to normative religious organizations and general civil nonprofit organizations,folk beliefs also have their unique and obvious advantages at old-age care participation in rural community.At the same time,as an important subsystem of rural society,the method and validity of folk beliefs in old-age care participation are closely related to government participation,political and religious relations,market development,social trust and its adaptation to realistic institutional environment.To promote and facilitate the old-age care participation of folk beliefs in the rural society,it needs to lead by the mainstream values,adhere to the transformation of innovation,enhance social identity. The standardization of the management of the premises serves as the basis to adhere and to guide the community to participate in a voluntary and orderly manner.Guided  the respect to actual needs of the elderly,we should advocate mutual sharing,conserve the civilization of up to the good,respect elderly love family.Led by the local government,we should promote the formation of folk beliefs participation in an orderly and effective to the old-age care institutional mechanisms and social environment.

Key words:folk beliefs; charity old-age care; rural society