Yiran Ma – Week 3

Yiran Ma – Week 3

After I saw “Gifts from The Spirits”, I got some research about the Shaman. I find out that the function of religious activities of shaman is mainly manifested in the following aspects: first, claiming to "eliminate disasters, bless the safety of people", and eliminating disasters for the sacrifice family. Second, claiming to "offer sacrifices to the gods and exorcise ghosts for the sick" is a regular religious practice of shamans. According to the patient's symptoms, if the disease is thought to be caused by an "alien ghost", a bonfire is built outside the gate or on the edge of the village. The shaman "dances" and makes symbolic shooting around the bonfire, indicating "exorcism”. If it is believed to offend a god when the disease, they will kill pigs, cattle or sheep for the sacrifice, by the shaman presided over the sacrifice, "ask for god's forgiveness”. In the case of critically ill patients, they believed that their "soul" had left the body and went to the "underworld". They sacrificed at night, and the "god" of shaman went to the "underworld" to bring back the "soul" of the patient and return it to the body. It is said that no matter what kind of disease you have, how serious it is, the shaman can cure you in different ways. Third, claim to "pray for a productive harvest”. Different regions have different ways of production and different forms of religious activities to pray for harvest. Hunters offer sacrifices to shaman's "gods" when they cannot catch wild animals for a long time. At the time of sacrifice, the models of deer and pigs were made of wicker. Shaman would go into battle with a bow and shoot. Then the models of deer and pigs were shot down one after another. If there is a drought, insect or flood. Of course, shaman also had a way, they put up their clothes and went to sacrifice to the "god of the river", "god of insects", so the good weather, pests disappeared, cattle thriving, the grain harvest.

Question: What are the specific names of shamanistic rituals？