| Description |
Cấp sắc Initiation Ritual is the most important ritual in the life cycle rituals of Yao men. The ceremony is usually held in the last 3 months of the year. Offerings include pigs, chickens, sticky rice, wine, cakes, 3 sets of lamps (7 sets or 9 sets depending on the level of the ceremony), paper, incense, fruit, clothes... At the beginning, the shaman announced the reason, recalled the history of the Yao people and the reason for the ceremony, and announced the name of the person receiving the ceremony. Then there are the rituals including inviting ancestors, providing offerings to thank the ancestors, reporting to the gods, opening the altar, naming sounds, inviting ancestors to the altar, wearing lamps, holding the lamp, and lowering the lamp, fighting, presenting to the Jade Emperor, etc., takes place from 3 to 5 days. The most important ritual is the exchange of religious identity. The Taoist document records the name, background, reason for accepting the ceremony, and advice in Nôm Yao Writing (10 taboos and 10 oaths). From now on, the person receiving the ceremony can participate in ritual activities, have their name recorded in the family tree, have 36 underworld soldiers to protect the family from demons, be blessed by Bàn King, and after they die, they can return to their homeland. ancestral homeland in Dương Châu. The final ritual is for the secretary to read a report to the ancestors and gods about the ceremony, praying for them to bless everyone with good things. After the ceremony, the homeowner invites relatives, villagers, and friends to a festive meal to congratulate the recipient. Before and during the ceremony, the person receiving the ceremony and family members must abstain from foods related to the offerings. |
