Memory and Therapy: A Study of the Function of the Hexi Baojuan in Local Society

The Precious Scrolls of Hexi (Hexi Baojuan) embody the “collective memory” of the people in the Hexi region. The “Creation memory” and “Traumatic memory” are two key types of collective memory. Through the continuous recording and (re)creation of memories, the Baojuan exerts a therapeutic effect on people’s inner confusion and physical or mental pain. By studying the representative works of the ritual and secular Baojuan of the Hexi Baojuan, the Longhua Baojing (龙华宝经), and the Precious Scroll of Kalpa Survival (Jiujie Baojuan救劫宝卷), this paper examines the creation memory and traumatic memory of the Hexi people, thereby revealing the hidden tension between memory and healing.