Due to the attacks of Buddhism,Daoism and the local worship,particularly to the joint efforts of land system changes,the
development of commercial economy and being an official far from his hometown,the
orthodox altar God of the local county and district in the Song Dynasty was in a declining situation,which was "orthodox in Confucian philosophy but weak in force".Contrary to this fact,local people's faith in the village God in the Song Dynasty was very much active.The local people's faith in the village God divided the natural village into units,and fang in the city,which represented the interests of rural people and the urban poor.Due to its lower social class,the position of local land God was petty,too,which was under control of town's God,representing the interest of the urban upper class.Though the position of
local village God was petty,yet it was orthodox in Confucian philosophy and held a dominating position in morality and justice.Therefore,the rulers tried to control local society by using the local village God,which had achieved some social effects.