唐宋时期,随着国家祭祀制度的发展完善,朝廷努力将社稷祭祀礼仪推行于地方,但是在地方层面中州县社稷却遭遇窘境,其祭祀"多不如礼",呈现颓废之状,城隍神明显凌侵社稷尊位而备受地方重视。然州县社稷的现实窘境并不意味着其祭祀衰落,进入地方祭祀体制中的城隍神未能真正取代社稷的地位,而是被收编置于社稷位次之下。由唐至宋,地方社稷与城隍神之间的纠葛,不仅反映了国家祭祀体制在地方社会中的推行和影响,更透视出唐宋国家对地方社会日趋强化的统治和掌控。
In Tang and Song Dynasty, along with the development and perfection of state ritual system, the court makes effort to promote country sacrifice rite into local place, but confronts difficulty in the states and counties at the local level. The sacrifice"numerous lesser than ritual"is declining and City God exceeds country idea and paid attention to by the local people. However, the realistic situation of states and counties does not mean the declination of rituals and City God in the local sacrifice system does not really replace the place of country idea, but classified into the latter. From Tang Dynasty to Song Dynasty, the conflict between local country idea and City God reflects the promotion and influence of state sacrifice system into local community as well as the gradual state governing and control over local community.