Resonance Between Humans and Deities: The Operation of Rain-Praying Rituals in Guizhou During the Ming and Qing Dynasties

The unique natural and geographical conditions of Guizhou during the Ming and Qing dynasties often gave rise to droughts, which in turn fostered distinctive rain-praying activities. These rituals were centered on the worship of the Dragon Deity while also incorporating diverse objects of belief, including the Wind Spirit, the City God (Chenghuang), and historical figures, thus forming a striking contrast with the central states rain-praying ceremonies. The participants in these rituals ranged from local officials and Daoist priests to spontaneously organized folk groups. The ritual process embodied both the standardized norms of the central ritual system and the preservation of local characteristics. The rain-praying practices in Ming and Qing Guizhou reveal the localized wisdom of traditional society in coping with natural disasters.