從歷史變遷的維度，考察明清以來番禺地區迎神賽會的結構與功能。番禺地區的迎神賽會，以神明崇拜為核心，以神明顯圣的神話傳說為信仰動力，人們通過神誕中的儀式展演，象征性地建構人與社會、人與超自然的神及祖先之間的關系。人神互惠，是迎神賽會之所以能夠延續的穩定的結構，也是其信仰基礎。由于社會的變遷，隨著這一穩定結構中的各種社會關系此消彼長，借迎神賽會"約縱連橫"的防御性功能日漸消失，而"慶敘親誼"的聯誼性功能，則逐漸成為迎神賽會的主要功能。

From the perspective of historical transition,this article researches the structure and functions of the religious festival in Panyu area since the Ming and Qing Dynasties.The religious festival in Panyu makes god worshiping as the core and the god-appearing myths and legends as the dynamics of their belief.Local people symbolically construct the relationship of humans and society as well as humans and the supernatural gods and ancestors by the ritual performance at the birthday of the god.Reciprocity between humans and gods is the stable structure for the festival’s continuity as well as the foundation of its belief.As the result of social change,as well as the shift of all kinds of social relationships in this stable structure,the function of defense has disappeared and the celebration for friendship has been the main function of the religious festival.