Trance ritual in the worship of the Mother Goddess
Lan Anh -
(VOVworld)- Going into a trance is believed to be a way of communicating with genies through a spirit medium. Through this ritual, genies are believed to be summoned to grant blessings to worshippers of the Mother Goddess. The ritual combines religious belief and folk performance art.
Photo: dulichvietnam.com |
Going into a trance is a folk belief which is practiced not just in Vietnam but elsewhere in the world. But Vietnam’s trance ritual in the worship of the Mother Goddess is unique because it embraces Vietnamese culture. The ritual of worshipping the Mother Goddess reflects the Vietnamese tradition of patriotism. Historical figures who have rendered great service to the nation are worshipped by the Mother Goddess religion. The Jade Emperor holds the highest place, then the Mother Goddess, and then the Genies. Legends say the Tenth Prince Genie in Nghe An embodies General Nguyen Xi, who served King Le Loi in the 13th century, the Sixth Prince Genie embodies General Tran Luu who defeated the Ming enemy in the 15th century, the Seventh Prince Genie embodies a royal mandarin who safeguarded the Lao Cai region and the Eight Prince Genie embodies General Tran Quoc Tang in the Tran dynasty.
Mr. Nguyen Tien Dung, a researcher with the Vietnamese Belief Research Center, says that in a trance session, the medium serves as an ambassador connecting the material world with the genies: “According to legends, there are 36 Genies who are stationed in different regions. The 36 Genies are arranged in a strict hierarchical order. They spiritually match with certain people who are believed to have the fate of serving the Genies”.
A medium can incarnate different deities and spirits and is called either Mr. or Ms. in different sessions. The medium is well-dressed in a red turban and belt and green silk robe embroidered with dragons and phoenixes. The costumes of the medium may vary depending on the role he or she assumes: a general, a mandarin, or a dancing girl. The medium is believed to have a fate of serving as a communication medium between the material world and the spirit world. Professor Ngoc Duc Thinh is Director of the Center for Research and Preservation of Vietnamese Folk Belief and Culture: “Everyone conveys their wishes to the Mother Goddess through the mediums who incarnate different deities and genies in 36 sessions. Some mediums can perform only 20 sessions. The figure of 36 trance sessions is just symbolic”.
Photo: dulichvietnam.com
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Photo: dulichvietnam.com
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The trance ritual reflects people’s aspirations for a better life. Professor Ngo Duc Thinh said: “The ritual reflects the fine tradition and culture of Vietnamese people. An American scholar says the ritual of going into trance is a living museum of Vietnamese culture and tradition. It is a museum with living artifacts inspiring people to sincerity, humanity and beauty”.
Photo:dulichvietnam.com |
The ritual of going into a trance in the worship of the Mother Goddess gives people the hope of health, luck and prosperity as well as encouragement and faith in life.
Lan Anh