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Abstract
One of the traditional religious rituals of the Yao ethnic group is seeking reciprocal favor for the family from the gods (known as “Huan Jia Yuan”). The cultural value system of the Yao community can be seen in this ritual. Based on fieldwork examining Huan Jia Yuan in Huangdong Township, Hezhou City, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, this article analyzes the symbolism of the ritual, as well as the behavior and psychology of the Yao people. It provides a detailed account of the structure and process of the ritual and examines the religious function of Huan Jia Yuan. It demonstrates that Huan Jia Yuan is a ritual by which Yao people communicate and exchange with gods through offerings and sacrifices. In return, the gods promise to eliminate disasters and to use their sacred powers to help those who are experiencing difficulties. In modern society, maintaining cultural inheritance and fostering connections between people are very important. As a result, the ritual has changed in response to the changing life of the community.
Highlights
The religious ceremony of “Huan Jia Yuan (HJY 還家願),”1 known as “Zuo Tang (做堂)” in the local dialect, involves seeking reciprocal favors from Panwang
Huan Jia Yuan is a traditional ritual for the Yao people that has considerable symbolic significance and important social functions
The function of the ceremony is to ensure the survival of the ancient wisdom of the Yao people and help them to solve problems through the help of the gods
Summary
The religious ceremony of “Huan Jia Yuan (HJY 還家願),” known as “Zuo Tang (做堂)” in the local dialect, involves seeking reciprocal favors from Panwang (or King Pan, 盤王). He pointed out that the first half of Huan Jia Yuan is a Taoist ceremony, whereas the second half is a sacrificial ritual for Panwang (Zhao 2010) This reflects the traditional belief system of the Yao and suggests that it absorbs and transforms some elements of Han culture. Li concludes that in different Yao villages across different regions, there are differences in the form, structure, and frequency of sacrificial rituals These differences are not merely due to cultural affinities; rather, they reflect the cluster model of the Yao people, which is based on the practical needs of reproduction in each family. The folk customs are simple, and traditional Yao rituals are commonly held This trip would be an appropriate way to explore the social functions of religious rituals by studying Huan Jia Yuan. The final section of the paper focuses on the modern social functions of the ritual, namely strengthening cultural history, enhancing ethnic identity, and connecting the Yao people spiritually
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