以臺灣的研究經驗，論述漢人傳統莊社的基本性質。其一，漢人莊社是一個儀式共同體，漢人莊社基本上是一個儀式界定的社會單位，人們在所居住的莊社里崇拜神明，舉行共同的祭祀，有很強的社會凝聚力。其二，漢人莊社具有法人性格，這可以從傳統漢人莊社擁有公地，以及莊社神明擁有田產，看出端倪。其三，漢人莊社是一個命運共同體，長期共同生活經驗的累積，讓莊民產生命運與共的一體感，可從莊社地理的說詞與每年所抽的年簽看出。其四，漢人莊社是一個生命的有機體，村莊和人一樣有生老病死，生命不斷變化，也有毀莊滅莊的情況發生。其五，村莊是一個意志單位，村莊作為社會集體的存在，可以透過頭人表達其自由意志的選擇，特別是在與外界建立村莊聯盟的時候。其六，村莊是村際關系的交陪單位，透過友廟、交陪境、聯莊組織等，村莊與其它村莊建立長期穩定的交陪關系。

The basic characteristics of Chinese Han village are generalized based on my research experiences on folk beliefs.First，it’s a ritual community，that is，the Chinese Han village is a ritually defined social unit.Second，it obtains legal status just like juridical person，which is evidenced by the common property owned by the village itself or in the name of its deities.Third，it is also a destiny community，within which all the villagers identify with the destiny of the village，and which is evidenced by stories and legends about village geomancy as well as the oracles withdrawn yearly.Fourth，it’s also an organic body just like human beings.Not only it can be established and developed，it can also be destroyed and vanished.Fifth，it’s a unit of free will and the headman of the village usually serves as its representative.Sixth，it’s a basic unit for inter-village relations and interactions.The Chinese Han village usually maintains long-term friendship with other villages in terms of organizing multi-village association or simply friendly temples to support festivals with each other.