Abstract: Folk beliefs of the Bai are diversified in Heqing County where Buddhism, Christianity and Catholicism coexist legally with folk beliefs such as worship of common village ancestors and Emperor Wenchang. For the Bai, the most influential are Buddhism and the worship of their own village ancestors, which is the core of the local folk belief. Into the fabric of their ancestor worship are woven numerous Buddhist elements, which, in addition to the diversified ancestor characters, makes the local beliefs even more complicated and diversified. Venues for worship include Buddhist temples and churches approved by the government as well as ancestor temples, Emperor Wenchang’s Palaces, mountain god temples and other places built by the folk themselves, where the villagers gather to communicate and socialize. Through such gatherings village identification is strengthened, inter-village relationship improved and pressure on villagers released. Such folk belief activities help preserve healthy folk custom, playing a positive role in construction of harmonious society in areas inhabited by minority ethnic groups.

Key words: Heqing County, the Bai people, folk belief, village ancestor worship