Table 4 Specific applications of ritual plants
From: Ethnobotanical study on ritual plants used by Hani people in Yunnan, China
Ritual name | Number of plants used | Scientific name of plant | Parts used | How to use ritual plants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1.Ahuihuisuohong (Ritual of calling sb’s soul) | 1 | Musa basjoo Siebold & Zucc. ex Iinuma | Leaf | After reciting the ritual chants, rice and cabbage are wrapped |
2 | Phyllostachys sulphurea (Carr.) A. et C. Riv | Stem, leaf | Old bamboo is used to make ancestral spirits, and young bamboo is used to make bamboo wine cups | |
3 | Rhus chinensis Mill | Bark | Seal bamboo wine glasses with bark | |
2.Angmatu (Ritual of worshiping the village god) | 1 | Oryza sativa L | Stem, leaf | Weaving straw rope is called “village gate” by the Hani people |
2 | Rhus chinensis Mill | Stem | Cut it into nine wooden hammers and nine wooden knives, mark them with burnt charcoal, and hang them on the “village gate” made of straw | |
3.Boza (Funeral) | 1 | Alnus nepalensis D. Don | Stem | Make “ghost umbrellas”; use them as firewood for the deceased |
2 | Bambusa emeiensis L. C. Chia & H. L. Fung | Stem | A large bamboo stands at the entrance of the deceased’s home; Beima transforms it into a bamboo tube to guide the spiritual journey | |
3 | Chimonobambusa pachystachys Hsuch et W. P. Zhang | Stem | Preparation of sacrificial altar “Boge” | |
4 | Eurya nitida Korthals | Branch, leaf | The purest tree; crafting “ghost umbrellas” | |
5 | Juncus effusus L | Whole plant | Weave grass mats for the deceased’s coffin | |
4.Dekayaza (Purification ritual) | 1 | Musa basjoo Siebold & Zucc. ex Iinuma | Leaf | After reciting the ritual words, they wrap rice and vegetables and deliver them outside the house |
2 | Phyllostachys sulphurea (Carr.) A. et C. Riv | Stem, leaf | Crafting ancestral spirits, hanging chicken feathers and duck feathers | |
5.Hasaza (Ritual of asking for peace) | 1 | Rhus chinensis Mill | Stem | Carving into the shape of wooden knives to ward off evil spirits |
6.Huobihuozuo (Ritual of stabilizing the house) | 1 | Imperata cylindrica (L.) Beauv | Stem, leaf | Placing them on the roof symbolizes preventing the house from leaking during rainfall |
2 | Musa basjoo Siebold & Zucc. ex Iinuma | Leaf | Placing them on the roof symbolizes preventing the house from leaking during rainfall | |
3 | Phyllostachys sulphurea (Carr.) A. et C. Riv | Stem, leaf | Carving bamboo into strips and placing them on the door and walls | |
4 | Salix cavaleriei Levl | Stem, branch, leaf | Placing them around the house to prevent the house from loosening | |
7.Huoxiza (Xinmijie Festival) | 1 | Oryza sativa L | Stem, leaf | Suspending them on the central pillar, symbolizing the presence of the true ancestors |
8.Kuzhazha (Farming sacrificial ritual) | 1 | Acer sinense Pax | Stem, branch | Securing the “Moqiu” in place |
2 | Alnus nepalensis D. Don | Stem | Crafting the “Moqiu” | |
3 | Amomum tsaoko Crevost et Lemarie | Stem | Decorating sacrifices. Tying bundles of sticky rice and eggs wrapped in banana leaves | |
4 | Bambusa emeiensis L. C. Chia & H. L. Fung | Stem | Crafting bamboo strips to secure thatched grass on the roof of the Moqiu house | |
5 | Castanopsis chinensis (Sprengel) Hance | Stem | Using three wooden poles as swing frames, one bundle of wooden sticks for constructing the beams on the Moqiu house, securing two wooden sticks for the Moqiu, and utilizing them as Moqiu pillars | |
6 | Celtis tetrandra Roxb | Stem | One swing frame; securing the swing frame | |
7 | Chimonobambusa pachystachys Hsuch et W. P. Zhang | Stem | Weaving a small bamboo raft called “Boge” for the altar inside the Moqiu house | |
8 | Docynia delavayi (Franch.) C. K. Schneid | Whole plant | The sacred tree is worshipped | |
9 | Eurya nitida Korthals | Branch, leaf | After setting up the swing frame, the topmost position is reserved for an inverted placement. The first swing is adorned with green branches of the trees | |
10 | Imperata cylindrica (L.) Beauv | Stem, leaf | The thatched grass lay on the roof of the Moqiu house | |
11 | Microstegium ciliatum (Trin.) A. Camus | Branch, leaf | Offering horse fodder to the celestial horse, the mount of the heavenly deity. Three small bundles, each containing nine stalks, are hung on the Moqiu house | |
12 | Millettia reticulata Benth | Stem | The delicate vines used to connect the swing frames | |
13 | Molinia japonica Hack | Stem, leaf | Securing the swing frames | |
14 | Musa acuminata var. sumatrana (Becc.) Nasution | Leaf | Wrapping sticky rice, eggs, and layering beef on the leaves | |
15 | Photinia beauverdiana C.K. Schneid | Stem | Constructing the swing frames | |
16 | Prunus cerasoides (D. Don) Sok | Stem | Assembling the “Moqiu Pillars” | |
17 | Pueraria montana var. lobata (Willdenow) Maesen & S. M. Almeida ex Sanjappa & Predeep | Stem | Connecting and securing the swing frames together | |
18 | Schima argentea Pritz. ex Diels | Whole plant | The sacred tree is worshipped | |
19 | Spatholobus suberectus Dunn | Stem | Swing; fasten the swing frames; secure the Moqiu structure | |
20 | Stewartia pteropetiolata W. C. Cheng | Stem | The wooden rods were used to construct the beams on the Moqiu house | |
9.Mulania (Ritual of erecting the stone tablets of merit) | 1 | Crataegus pinnatifida Bunge | Whole plant | Virtue and charity: planted next to various types of stone monuments and platforms to provide shade and coolness for passers-by and to quench their thirst and hunger |
2 | Docynia delavayi (Franch.) C. K. Schneid | Whole plant | Virtue and charity: planted next to various types of stone monuments and platforms to provide shade and coolness for passers-by and to quench their thirst and hunger | |
3 | Malus pumila Mill | Whole plant | Virtue and charity: planted next to various types of stone monuments and platforms to provide shade and coolness for passers-by and to quench their thirst and hunger | |
4 | Prunus persica L | Whole plant | Virtue and charity: planted next to various types of stone monuments and platforms to provide shade and coolness for passers-by and to quench their thirst and hunger | |
5 | Pyrus betulifolia Bunge | Whole plant | Virtue and charity: planted next to various types of stone monuments and platforms to provide shade and coolness for passers-by and to quench their thirst and hunger | |
6 | Pyrus xerophila Yü | Whole plant | Virtue and charity: planted next to various types of stone monuments and platforms to provide shade and coolness for passers-by and to quench their thirst and hunger | |
10.Ximaganiusa (Disaster relief ritual, drive away swine fever) | 1 | Artemisia caruifolia Buch.-Ham. ex Roxb | Stem, leaf | Suspending on the door, suspending on the door of pigsty; Cleaning and repelling swine fever from the household |
2 | Capsicum annuum L | Fruit | Inserting the knife made of Rhus chinensis Mill to ward off swine fever. Suspending on the door, suspending on the door of pigsty | |
3 | Rhus chinensis Mill | Stem | Carving tree branches into knife-like shapes and drawing stripes with black charcoal to ward off ghosts and plague spirits. Suspending on the door, suspending on the door of pigsty | |
4 | Rubus ellipticus var. obcordatus (Franch.) Focke | Stem, leaf | Suspending on the door, suspending on the door of pigsty. Cleaning and repelling swine fever from the household | |
11.Zuoruotu (Ritual of erecting a central pillar) | 1 | Castanopsis chinensis (Sprengel) Hance | Stem | Erecting a central pillar |
2 | Cunninghamia lanceolata (Lamb.) Hook | Stem | Erecting a central pillar | |
3 | Ficus concinna Miq | Stem, branch, leaf | Erecting a central pillar | |
4 | Oryza sativa L | Stem, leaf | Suspended on the central pillar, representing the true ancestors |