Table 3 Detailed information on these rituals
From: Ethnobotanical study on ritual plants used by Hani people in Yunnan, China
No. | Ritual name (transliteration of Hani name) | Ritual name | Ritual time | Ritual location | Persons who perform rituals | Reasons for performing rituals and functions of rituals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Ahuihuisuohong | Ritual of calling sb’s soul | The timing of the ritual is not fixed; when the host thinks it is necessary | The host of the ritual | One Beima | Someone was bitten by a snake, and the ritual was performed to bring his soul back so that the whole family would be healthy |
2 | Angmatu | Ritual of worshiping the village god | The first dragon day in February of the lunar calendar lasts five days | Moqiuchang and the sacred forest of the village | One Beima and four Migus | Worship the village gods to seek blessings and protection from the village gods, and pray for the villagers’ good health, prosperity of livestock, and good harvests. They are preparing for spring plowing |
3 | Boza | Funeral | The timing of funerals is not fixed; they are held whenever someone passes away | Home of the deceased | Several Beimas | May the departed rest in peace, their souls return to their ancestral place, and the living thrives in health and prosperity |
4 | Dekayaza | Purification ritual | The timing of the ritual is not fixed; when the host thinks it is necessary | The host of the ritual | One Beima | Bees fly to build nests under the eaves. Clean the yard and remove all unclean and unsanitary things in the house |
5 | Hasaza | Ritual of asking for peace | The first month in the lunar calendar lasts for one day and concludes | The host of the ritual, in the forest | One Beima | Before going out, seek safety, good health, and abundant wealth |
6 | Huobihuozuo | Ritual of stabilizing the house | The timing of the ritual is not fixed; when the host thinks it is necessary | The host of the ritual | One Beima | Someone dreams that their house has collapsed and performs rituals to stabilize it so that it will not collapse in real life |
7 | Huoxiza | Xinmijie | The first dragon day in August of the lunar calendar | In the terraced fields, every household | Head of each household | They are grateful to their ancestors and pray for their blessings, abundant crops, prosperous livestock, good health of the villagers, and prosperity of the population |
8 | Kuzhazha | Farming sacrificial ritual | The 24th day of the sixth month in the lunar calendar lasts three days | Moqiuchang, Moqiu house, Every household | Four Migus | Pray that the crops will be abundant, the livestock will be prosperous, the villagers will be healthy, and the population will be thriving |
9 | Mulania | Ritual of erecting the stone tablets of merit | The timing of the ritual is not fixed; they are held when a particular family needs to erect the stone tablets of merit | Roadside or village roadside | One Beima | Some women may face difficulties in conceiving, or there may be individuals with health issues in the household. In such cases, constructing stone monuments and platforms is undertaken to accumulate merits through virtuous deeds in hopes of receiving blessings and positive outcomes |
10 | Ximaganiusa | Disaster relief ritual, drive away swine fever | The first pig day in the seventh month of the lunar calendar | Every household | Head of each household | To eradicate swine fever; all undesirable and unclean elements within the household are expelled |
11 | Zuoruotu | Ritual of erecting a central pillar | The timing of the ritual is not fixed; they are held when a particular family needs to erect a center pillar | The host of the ritual | One Beima | A central pillar is erected in the house, and all ritual activities in the home revolve around this pillar. It represents the life tree of the family |