本文主要是探討通靈者在现代台灣越來越多的现象，本文所 謂的通靈者，指的是具備與神佛直接溝通能力的宗教人士。道些 通靈者散佈在社會的各個角落，或是地方公廟，或是私人神壇， 或是社團，甚至是私宅裡，為信眾，為朋友，或為有緣人，提供 各種宗教服務。今日有些通靈者已經取代了傳統乩童的角色，有 些只專門替人治病，有些則為求問者的生命方向或困惑指點迷 津，以往乩童能夠為信眾服務的項目，幾乎都被通靈者囊括了。 通靈人的發展與傳統的乩童有一些連續性，但也有很大的差異 性。不管是傳統的乩童或後來會靈山運動所帶動的靈乩，神靈的 憑附，以及憑附時所產生的恍惚（trance)狀態皆為其重要的特色。 但是通靈人缺乏這一項特色。我將通靈人在今日社會中日益普 遍，似有取代傳統乩童的趨勢，视為一種與神佛溝通媒介的典範 性轉移。為何通靈人會逐步地躍上台灣民間宗教的舞台，取代傳 統的乩童、靈乩？是本文想要釐清的問題。本文透過對五十幾位 具有神佛授法經驗的宗教人士的訪問案例，想要從當事者的角 1本文之寫作得到研究助理李家愷先生的協助甚多，特此致謝。兩位審查人的寳貴意見， 對於本文之定稿的修改與潤飾，助益甚大，一併致謝。本文係國科會跨領域整合型計畫： 全球化架構下的台灣宗教發展（瞿海源教授主持）之一項子計畫「台灣民間宗教的創新 及其與傳統的融合」（NSC 101-2420-H-320 -002 -MY2 )之研究成果，感謝國科會對此 項計畫的支持。已逝的台大社會系林端教授，在台灣宗教學會會長任内催生此一跨領域 計畫，本人藉此表示無限懷思與感念。

There are more and more tong-ling-ren (通靈人)in current Taiwan. Tong-ling-ren refers to religious people who possess the ability to communicate with deities. These tong-ling-rens may be found within private shrines, in the comer of local temples, in apartments in the city, or within certain religious groups. They offer all sorts of religious services for believers，for friends, or for anyone who approaches them. Generally speaking, these tong-ling-rens have almost replaced the traditional role played by the Chi-tong (traditional shaman) . Some tong-ling-rens deal only with curing diseases while others offer various kinds of advice, guidance, and answers for those who need help. There exists some kind of continuity between the traditional tong-gi and the current tong-ling-ren, but there is surely a big difference between them. An important characteristic of the tong-gi or ling-chi which became popular after “the movement of gathering in spiritual mountains” (會靈山運動)is possession by deities and the trance experienced in the state of possession. For the tong-ling-ren, such a characteristic is lacking. In this paper, I argue that the tong-ling-ren is currently replacing the traditional tong-gi, and I take this as paradigm shift in the method of communication with deities, that is to say, from possession to direct communication. I also attempt to clarify why tong-ling-rens have gradually appeared on the stage of Taiwanese folk religion. I have interviewed more than fifty tong-ling-rens who have experienced teaching from deities. Through these field cases, it would be easier to observe whether the method of communication with deities is * Professor, Institute of Religion and Humanity, Tzu Chi University. E-mail: etlmr@gate.sinica.edii.tw.