| Description |
The Rite of Passage for Pụt Masters (Lẩu Pụt) is the ceremony of granting the Put master the title of Tao master, marking the Put master's permission to practice in the Tay community in Dong Phuc (Ba Be - Bac Kan). The Then master's ordination ceremony expresses the desire to rise up to master life, master nature, reflecting the religious life of the Tay community. In order of rank, Tao master is the highest master, followed by Put master and then Then master. Therefore, Tao master is allowed to grant the Put master title, and Put master is allowed to grant the Then master title. After being granted the title, Put master is qualified to practice.
Master Tao and Master Put read the prayers to perform the rituals: the road opening ceremony, the ancestor ceremony, wine offering, incense offering, the ceremony to dispel bad luck, pray for blessings, thank you ceremony... After the ceremony ends, the person who is ordained becomes a Master Put, practicing to help people in saving suffering and disaster, eliminating diseases and evil spirits, praying for luck and peace...
At the beginning of the Rite of Passage for Pụt Masters, the person who is ordained steps out on a pink cloth, symbolizing the umbilical cord when just born, meets Master Tao and Master Put, like meeting the birth-giver, is nurtured and taught to become a useful person, saving sentient beings. During the Rite of Passage for Pụt Masters, the person who is ordained is taught by Master Tao and the Jade Emperor the quintessence of magic to save suffering and disaster, save people and save the world, eliminate diseases and evil spirits, pray for luck and peace for the people.
After being taught the Dharma, the person who is ordained must listen to and answer the questions of Master Tao, the content of which is an oath about what can and cannot be done, about preserving the Dharma name and practicing the Dharma. After answering the questions, Master Put is granted a royal decree by Master Tao with the seal of the Jade Emperor. The decree clearly states the position, duties, authority, and magic of Master Put's practice, marking his inauguration, allowing a person with the right destiny to officially practice the profession. After the new Master Put is officially recognized, his descendants and relatives drape pink cloth over the shoulders of the new Master Put, wishing him good words and good thoughts. After receiving the congratulations of his relatives, Master Put respectfully bows to Master Tao to express his grateful to his "parent" who taught him magic. The song, the heartfelt and profound thanks, like that of a grown-up child about to leave his parents, expressing his feelings before entering the threshold of adulthood, stepping on a new path. After that, Master Put prepared the offerings to present to the Jade Emperor, bowed in all four directions, eight directions so that the Jade Emperor could witness and allow him to officially practice his profession from now on. At the same time, Master Tao asked for a yin and yang hexagram, officially allowing Master Put to practice his profession, performing the first magic spells. Master Put practiced riding a horse, praying for peace for the villagers, while relatives performed the ceremony and held a festival to congratulate him.
The Rite of Passage for Pụt Masters (Lẩu Pụt) carries unique and impressive spiritual and cultural features of the Tay community, guiding people towards noble humanistic values, expressing the aspiration to rise up to master life and master nature. The Rite of Passage for Pụt Masters (Lẩu Pụt) of the Tay people in Dong Phuc commune, Ba Be district, Bac Kan province was included in the list of national intangible cultural heritage by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in 2018. |
