Abstract
Myths provide hagiographic and iconographic accounts of the gods, which shape rituals that are performed in cults associated with these gods. In the realization of iconographies and ritualization of narratives in myths, material objects play an active role. This article examines the pattern of worship in the cult of the Ah Pehs, a group of Underworld gods whose efficacy lies in the promise of occult wealth, and focuses on the material aspects such as offerings and paraphernalia associated with these gods. Though ritual texts and scriptures are absent in the Ah Peh cult, symbols in the form of material objects play a crucial role. These objects are also considered as synecdoche for the gods in certain cases. The first part of this paper presents a case study of the autonomous ritual of “Burning Prosperity Money”, which reveals the cycle of occult exchange between gods and devotees. The second part involves an imagery analysis of the material objects central to the cult, and argues that in the system of reciprocity with the gods, material objects common to the everyday life are reinterpreted and enchanted with a capitalist turn, resulting in the development of occult economies within the local Chinese religious sphere.
Highlights
Myths provide hagiographic and iconographic accounts of the gods, which shape rituals that are performed in cults associated with these gods
Though ritual texts and scriptures are absent in the Ah Peh cult, symbols in the form of material objects play a crucial role
Returning to the Ah Peh cult, its development into one that can be seen as a prosperity religion supporting an occult economy is unlike the Eighteen Kings or Luang Phor Khoon where the main target of worship per se is the focus of occult capitalistic practices, but relies more on devotees’ reinterpretation of material objects closely associated with the cult
Summary
The characters characters on the the black and and white fans placed in front of the abacus read:. The relationshipbetween betweenboth bothparties, parties,where whereanswered answeredprayers prayersare arereciprocated reciprocatedwith withgifts giftsthat thattake takeon on relationship monetary forms. Of gods as bureaucrats, and the division of gods, ghosts, monetary forms. As the “imperial metaphor” of gods as bureaucrats, and the division of gods, ghosts, andancestors ancestorsare aremirrored mirroredafter afterthe thereal-world real-worldsocial socialorder, order,devotees devoteeshave havealso alsoperceived perceivedthat thatgods gods and doininfact factrequire requiremoney. Papermoney moneyisisthus thusburnt burnttotothe thegods godsininexchange exchangefor forreal realmoney
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