Ritual Process Research Articles

Judaism in the Kitchen: Ritual Space of the Mountain Jewish Women of Dagestan

The article investigates the gender and ritual roles of the Mountain Jewish women of Dagestan. The research is based on fieldwork conducted by the "Sefer" Center in 2018. The author suggests that in the Mountain Jewish communities the central component of ritual life is a collective feast, but not the synagogue as it is in many other Jewish communities. Since traditionally women are responsible for preparing food, they shape and pass on the traditions of the Mountain Jews. They organize community celebrations and rites of passage. During Soviet times, the power over the ritual process transferred from the centralized male system, the synagogue, to the female sphere.

(T)racing the Great North Run as a ritual process using GPS mapping

The Great North Run witnesses 55,000 plus participants run from Newcastle to South Shields and is an annual ritual for many runners. The event reaches audiences around the world and is well documented by the media, yet the remains of such an event are as much embodied in the memory of a runner. Despite this, memories can be unreliable and forgotten, much like routine daily interactions with familiar environments. This article explores how data gathered using a GPS running watch is employed to reflect on and relive participation in the 2019 Great North Run (GNR) as part of a cyclical process between a body and a digital platform. In doing so, the author uses a structure of ritual process to make a case for how digital data collaborates with the body to reshape, distort and transform experience without detriment to embodied memories. Rather, data augments, enhances and deepens human memory.

In the Shadow of the Spirit Image: The Production, Consecration, and Enshrinement of a Daoist Statue in Northern Taiwan

Statues of the gods, or spirit images (shenxiang 神像), remain among the most ubiquitous material objects in the religious culture of modern-day Taiwan. Notwithstanding, research to date has yet to examine adequately the people and processes that produce, consecrate, and enshrine these statues, work that effects a transformation of these cult statues into sacred presences. How should we understand the relationship between these artistic and ritual processes and the resulting spirit image that is born out of them? The article argues that the spirit image at the heart of this study, a statue of the Daoist god Guangcheng Zi 廣成子, emerges in the context of its religious lifeworld not as a discrete entity, but rather as an “assemblage,” a coming together of the people who contribute to it, the materials those people use, and the specific spirits and divine powers those people invoke.

Temu Kembali Kemiripan Motif Citra Tenun Menggunakan Transformasi Wavelet Diskrit Dan GLCM

Indonesia is a country with cultural diversity. One of the famous cultural heritages in Indonesia is Woven Fabrics. East Nusa Tenggara Province, especially South Central Timor, is an area that also produces weaving. There are 3 types of woven fabric motifs, namely the Buna, Lotis, and Futus motifs which were inherited from their ancestors. Woven cloth is unique because it is made through a ritual process and is used for traditional ceremonies, weddings, funerals, and so on. However, along with the development of technology, ordinary people increasingly forget the motifs of woven fabrics and have difficulty distinguishing the motifs. The function of this research is to improve the performance of previous studies in the process of finding the similarity of weaving image motifs using discrete wavelet transforms and GLCM. The results are known, calculations using a confusion matrix on discrete wavelet transformation feature extraction and GLCM, comparisons on discrete wavelet transformations produce an accuracy rate of 70% Minkowski matrix, 60% Manhattan matrix, 60% Canberra matrix, 20% Euclidean matrix. Comparison of feature extraction calculations on GLCM produces an average quality of the Minkowski matrix of 90% and the lowest level of accuracy on the Euclidean, Manhattan, and Canberra matrices of 80%.

PEMANFAATAN TRADISI RESIK LAWON SUKU USING SEBAGAI SUMBER BELAJAR SEJARAH LOKAL PADA SMA DI BANYUWANGI

Tradition is a habit that is carried out by a group of people so as to produce customs and culture that are increasingly developing and influential in society. “Tradition is the inheritance of a series of habits and values that are passed down from one generation to the next. The existence of the Resik Lawon tradition in the village of Cungking is an interesting thing to study, especially the problem of the development of the Resik Lawon ritual. Traditional values can be integrated into local history subjects at high school in Banyuwangi. The objectives of this study are first, to find out the history of the Resik Lawon tradition; Second, to find out the implementation of the Lawon Resik Tradition; and third, to find out the efforts of the surrounding community to maintain and preserve the existence of the Resik Lawon Tradition, and fourth: The Utilization of the Resik Lawon Tradition of the Using Tribe as a Source for Learning Local History at High Schools in Banyuwangi. This study uses a qualitative descriptive approach. Data collection methods used by observation, interviews and documentation. The stages of data analysis are data collection, data reduction, data presentation and drawing conclusions. In its history, the tradition of Resik Lawon is a tradition that has existed for a long time and is carried out by the people of the Cungking village which is associated with the existence of a famous figure of Wongso Karyo. In practice they have rules that must be obeyed by the community. The most important elements in preserving a tradition are: Maintaining the tradition by involving the whole community in the ritual process, Promoting the tradition with the aim of introducing tourism objects, and Collaborating with outside parties as funding. Aspects of the procession of the Resik Lawon that are used as a source of cultural history learning are historical aspects related to the historical process of the existence of the Resik Lawon tradition that must be known by students, educational aspects related to learning materials in accordance with the 2013 curriculum and social aspects regarding the characteristics of life. social community that can be learned by students.

‘The Timpani Beats Just Hit on My Heart!’ Music, Memory, and Diplomacy in the Philadelphia Orchestra's 1973 China Tour

AbstractThis article examines the underexplored history of the 1973 Philadelphia Orchestra China tour and retheorizes twentieth-century musical diplomacy as a process of ritualization. As a case study, I consult bilingual archives and incorporate interviews with participants in this event, which brings together individual narratives and public opinions. By contextualizing this musical diplomacy in the Cold War détente and the Chinese Cultural Revolution, I argue for the complex set of relations mobilized by Western art music in 1973. This tour first created a sense of co-dependency between musicians and politicians. It also engaged Chinese audiences by revitalizing pre-Cultural Revolution sonic memories. Second, I argue that the significance of the 1973 Orchestra tour lies in the ritualization of Western art music as diplomatic etiquette, based on further contextualization of this event in the historical trajectory of Sino-US relations and within the entrenched Chinese ideology ofliyue(ritual and music).

Alcohol, ancestors, and the house: Exploring ritual use of beer at Kirikongo, Burkina Faso

This paper explores the evidence for beer production, consumption, and ritual use at Kirikongo (100–1650 CE), a well-preserved archaeological site located in Mouhoun Province, western Burkina Faso. The site is comprised of thirteen anthropogenic mounds (tells) that were formed through sequential ritual processes that created ancestor shrines through either construction of dedicated mortuary monuments or transformation of domestic spaces and buildings. Tombs and architectural emplacements were accompanied by discrete accumulations of fauna, botanical remains, and material culture, the latter of which likely represents personal or familial belongings. Within these ceramic assemblages, there are significant numbers of small highly decorated consumption vessels, tri-pod ritual vessels likely connected to use of liquids, and large vessels consistent with beer production. Based upon contextual analysis of ceramics, cultural practices related to ancestors, and evidence from a destroyed ritual complex with intact material culture and ritualized use of sorghum, this paper argues that beer was likely used at Kirikongo both in the social life of the community and in rituals related to ancestors. The nature of sorghum beer production may have influenced the overall absence of sorghum in macrobotanical samples.

Outside the house, there are no laws: musical practice and ritual dynamics at Shona kurova guva ceremonies

ABSTRACT In Zimbabwe, the ceremony known as kurova guva is widely held by Shona speakers in order to reintegrate deceased family members within the patrilineage as ancestral spirits, or vadzimu. Conducted a year after burial, kurova guva involves a heterogeneous musical environment that distinguishes it from other ritual events described in the literature on Zimbabwean music. Held by traditionalists and members of several Christian denominations, the ceremony also offers a potent reminder that indigenous ritual remains a vibrant part of the contemporary Zimbabwean experience. I illustrate how music is a central mode of ritual practice at kurova guva, where it is considered ritually efficacious in enabling participants to reclaim the spirit of the deceased as a lineage ancestor. At the same time, I suggest that musical practice also participates in the continual renegotiation, articulation, and social production of the ritual contours of kurova guva. Through the negotiation of music’s spatial and temporal dimensions, I illustrate how participants at kurova guva express the structured ambiguity at the heart of ritual process. My analysis suggests that the gap between discursive expectations and actualised musical experience constitutes a productive site for ethnomusicological analysis.

고려시대 별기은(別祈恩)의 성격과 제행(祭行) 형태

This article dealt with the Byeolgieun(別祈恩)’s ritual aspect that was practiced in the whole Goryeo Dynasty. Byeolgieun was a ritual ceremony held by government and royal family in the various Gibokcheo(祈福處；a place for invoking a blessing) such as the palace, temple, mountains, rivers, and shrines etc. As Byeolgieun was the ritual representing the Goryeo Dynasty, which recognized the existence of various divinities, Byeolgieun was performed on the basis of several ideological grounds throughout the Goryeo Dynasty. According to the flow of time, it showed each ideological tone depth progressed and so Byeolgieun’s Buddhistic·Taoistic ceremony shaped in the early, middle Goryeo period, while Shamanistic tendency was stronger in the Late Goryeo period. There seems that the first Byeolgieun recording can be discovered in Byeolryegije(別例祈祭) of SImu 28, Choe Seung Ro(崔承老)’s Sangsomun(上疏文) when King Seongjong(成宗) period. Byeolgieun had already an established interpretation, that is “Eumsa(淫祀)”, means different from ritual processes and rites. But it could figure out that rites aspect regarding to the early Goryeo period Byeolgieun through trying to a new interpretation of exceptional rites such as Byeolryeyeondeunghoe(別例燃燈會)·Teukseolinwanghoe(特設仁王會). Hereafter under the unstable domestic and international conditions, Byeolgieun, which was gradually becoming more formationed and prevailed as national ritual after the establishment of a national organization related to ritual practice, GIeunsaek(祈恩色)·Byeolryegieundogam(別例祈恩都監), then from the word “Byeolgieun” being called to Gieun (contracted form) started to expand, not only in the capital town and palace but conducted ceremony in local area. As entered Yuan(元) intervention period, through the dispatch of those who are in charge the officer, Oesangieunbyoelgam(外山祈恩別監) and Gieunsa(祈恩使), Byeolgieun started to be performed in local Myeongsan(名山；authorized mountains) and temples. Oesanjegosa(外山祭告使), who performed confucianstic Sancheonje(山川祭；rites of authorized mountains and rivers), concurrently served as Oesangieunbyoelgam. When they went to the local Myeongsan for performing rites, they conveyed a decree of amnesty of the king to the local prisoners and they did lots of bad activities by using the high position as national rites officials. These Sancheonje style of Byeolgieun, Oesangieunbyoelgam conducts in the temple of the Myeongsan, can regard as the transition period before type was fixed from Buddhistic·Taoistic ceremony to Shamanistic ceremony in the Late Goryeo period. From the early 13th century, gradually appearing the Mudang(巫堂；shaman)’s ceremony much more prevailed by shamanistic trend since Yuan intervention period. In the Late Goryeo period, Mudangs participated in the politic issues directly or indirectly and using these current situation, Mudangs’ descendants and relatives took the higher status. Therefore Mudangs’ positions were much higher and Byeolgieun was fixed Shamanistic ceremony. Because Mudangs, who charged in GiuJe(祈雨祭；ritual for rain) and several private rituals in and out of the royal family, conducted the national rituals much more than ever, preventing Shamanism theory appeared. And In this circumstance, in order to distinguish “Gieun” in the previous system and separate Shamaniistic ritual formation, “Byeol” was added again then named “Byeolgieun”. Confucian scholars’ intense criticism against Shamanistic Byeolgieun, carried over Joseon, continued. Moreover several Confucian transformation made an attempt, but still remained Shamanistic ceremony.

KONSTRUKSI IDENTITAS KEISLAMAN KESULTANAN BACAN MELALUI RITUAL TOLAK BALAK

The issue of identity becomes an interesting thing to discuss because identity is always phenomenal. Specifically, the identity problem discussed in this article is the construction of the Islamic identity of the Bacan Sultanate through the ritual of rejecting Balak. This research was conducted on the grounds that this ritual is a ritual that has an Islamic spirit but opens up space for non-Muslim communities to participate in it. Research questions that arise from this problem include: 1). How is the history and growth of Islam in the Bacan Sultanate? 2). How was the ritual process and what was its impact in relation to the multicultural facts of the people of the Bacan Sultanate? This research was conducted using qualitative methods with interview, observation and literature studies. The results of the study found that: 1). The exclusive and inclusive identity of the people of the Bacan sultanate is constructed through the ritual of rejection of balance, showing that identity is never static, but always dynamic or liquid. 2) The existence of dynamics in the process of identity construction as seen in the ritual of back and forth from the inclusive back to the exclusive emphasizes Berger firmly about the dialectic process in the construction of social identity (1994:4). 3). religion has a double face or has an ambiguous nature. The dimension of prayer in ritual is a means of exclusion and at the same time confirms the ambiguity of religion itself.

EXISTENCE OF BALI PIG THROUGH THE USABA SUMBU IN DESA ADAT TIMBRAH, KARANGASEM DISTRICT


 
 
 Pigs are one of the most important in Balinese society, especially those who are Hindus because pig farm animals are the main component that is always present in every ritual activity in Bali. This gap can also be used to maintain the existence of bali pigs which are currently not counted. Karangasem is one of the clearest areas to become a pilot project to maintain the existence of bali pigs. Karangasem has two very large traditions that spearhead the establis- hment of the existence of the bali pig, namely Usaba Dalem and Usaba Sumbu. Two ritual processions above said the number of pork rolls in these two locations is already very large, and is one to be the starting point the program develops the preservation of bali pigs. So far the pigs used by people in both locations mostly use race pigs. If there is a choice in pigs, then there will be a huge opportunity for bali pigs. This is also a challenge for bali pig farmers to increase the amount of production through a more intensive system. Most people want to use bali pork as raw material for guling pork, if it is available, even some community leaders to use pork for perararem (local rule) are used, if the bali pig population is sufficient.
 
 

Familial Conversion: A Case Study on the Ethical-Religious Role of the Household in the Mass Conversion of Wenzhou Christians

This article explores the familial conversion which has cumulative impact on the mass conversion of Wenzhou Christians after 194 9. Acknowledging the dramatic revival of Christianity in Wenzhou following reform and opening in China by no means precludes recognizing the hidden upsurge of conversion events before 1978. Through a ease study on the congregation of Qingpu Church in Heyang area of Wenzhou > I hope to demonstrate that the familial aspect of conversion in the form of household units> rather than individual conversions> is the key to understanding the conversion of Wenzhou Christians. The article argues that the oneness of family derived from the emotional and responsible relationships within it, along with the process of the conversion ritual, constitute the ethical-religious role of the household > which contributes to the emergence of familial conversion. This preliminary study attempts to draw more attention to family,an essential ethical and even existential cultural factor in Chinese society. It is through the family that we may come to better understand the indigenous development of Christianity in China.

Pengembangan Media Augmented Reality pada Benda-benda Kebudayaan dalam Prosesi Ritual Pembuatan Perahu Pinisi di Desa Ara, Kecamatan Bontobahari, Kabupaten Bulukumba

This research aims to determine the development of Augmented Reality media in the Pinisi Boat Making Ceremony in Ara Village, Bulukumba Regency. The main problems raised in this research are what are the cultural objects and meanings of these cultural objects in the ritual procession of making Pinisi boats in Ara Village, Bontobahari District, Bulukumba Regency, and how to apply Augmented Reality media as a medium for cultural development based on cultural objects that have been analyzed. This research uses descriptive research and development. This study uses a qualitative approach and RnD (Research & Development). The instruments in this study use interview techniques, documentation and voice recording. The data analysis technique used is descriptive qualitative data analysis and development techniques. Pinisi is one of the cultural assets belonging to the Indonesian nation that is unique, and in its manufacturing ritual there are several cultural objects that have moral values and spiritual messages that must be preserved and preserved. Augmented Reality media is an alternative to cultural development in the modern era. Therefore, technology-based cultural development media is needed in an effort to preserve culture from generation to generation.
 Keywords: Augmented Reality, Pinisi Boat, Bulukumba, Building Ceremony.

Re-imagining Funerary Rites in the Context of Covid-19

Covid-19 has brought about unsuspected possibilities and death on a large global scale since its advent on the shores of the global community in early March of 2020. The novel pandemic has undoubtedly challenged and changed the normative operations of the social, political and economic activities all across the globe. Religious fraternities and activities have experienced challenging dynamics in how fellowship and worship are practised. Businesses and the entertainment industry have their share of suffering and enduring the suspending effect that has since been forcefully occasioned by the strategic global lockdown. The labour market metrics have realised a drastic decline due to companies closing down owing to the challenges that Covid-19 has rendered against their financial fragility and profit share. Academic institutions have also seen drastic challenges and a need for change in how they perform their curricula duties in the unpredictable context of Covid-19. Evidently, the advent of the Coronavirus has pointedly offered the nations of the world an opportunity to re-imagine a number of issues and social conducts. With millions of people dying across the globe, funerals have taken a new, strange turn in how the rites of passage for the deceased are practised. In light of this, the current essay presents the argument around re-imagining funerary rites in the Covid-19 context. The paper adopts Victor Tuner’s theoretical assumptions of ritual purported in his text entitled The Ritual Process: Structure and Anti-Structure, so as to theoretically problematise the idea of re-imagining funerary rites in the undesirable ‘new normal’? situation of Covid-19.

Ngas Concept of Tuput: Reincarnation or Resurrection?

In this article, we interrogate the concept of tuput (“to die and come out”) and the subsequent equation of it with reincarnation by the Ngas people of Plateau State in Nigeria, wherein it is claimed that persons who have undergone the ritual processes of tuput-enablement reincarnate within 2 days of their death, not by way of rebirth through conception and delivery but by just mysteriously reappearing in their full former selves and then resuming their normal life as though they never died. This claim raises a stir in us. In exploring the tuput phenomenon, we interviewed some indigenes of the Ngas community concerning the phenomenon. Thereafter, we situated the claims about tuput within the framework of existing theories of reincarnation and juxtaposed them with resurrection—another related theory of afterlife. Our findings reveal among other things that (a) although tuput is a theory of afterlife, it is not reincarnation. Tuput comes closer to the theory of resurrection as a theory of afterlife; (b) belief in tuput is unreflective and its associated claims are laden with internal contradictions; and (c) although tuput suffers the defects listed in (b), it nevertheless has some underlying values and promises that could be harnessed to enrich human knowledge and expand the scope of existing literature, if investigated further.

Confucianism and Rituals for Women in Chosŏn Korea

This essay offers an analysis of the writing and practices of Song Siyŏl as a way to explore the philosophical concepts and philosophizing process of Confucian ritual in relation to women. As a symbolic and influential figure in Korean philosophy and politics, his views contributed to shaping the orthodox interpretation of the theory and practice of Neo-Confucian ritual regarding women. By demonstrating and analyzing what kinds of issues were discussed in terms of women in four family rituals, I delineate the ways in which Song Siyŏl positioned women in his ritualist metaphysics and to examine his philosophizing process.

Al-Shafi’i Analytical Views on Ritual Pa’batte Tau: Evidence from Jeneponto, South Sulawesi

The background of the author in adopting this title is to find out how the review of the Syafi'i school of thought in the pa'batte tau ritual in Batujala Village, Bontoramba District, Jeneponto Regency. Then the formulation of the problem in this study are: 1). How was the pa'batte tau ritual procession in Batujala Village, Bontoramba District, Jeneponto Regency ?, 2). How do the people of Batujala Village view the pa'batte tau ritual? 3). How is the review of the Syafi'i mazhab of the pa'batte tau di ritual ?. The type or research method in this thesis is a qualitative research method. Qualitative research has three main keys, namely taking facts based on the understanding of the subject, the results of detailed observations and trying to find new theoretical results that are far from existing theories. Qualitative research or what is known as field research, starts with observation, then conducts interviews with the community to obtain accurate data or information as material for the completion of the thesis. The results of this study indicate that: 1). The people of Batujala Village still maintain the pa'batte tau ritual because they think that the tradition aims to summon rain during the prolonged dry season. 2). There are several factors why the pa'batte tau ritual in Batujala Village, Bontoramba District, Jeneponto Regency is still being maintained, one of which is the economic factor. 3). Based on the review of the Syafi'i mazhab, it has been enacted to pray istisqa if you want to call rain. The implications of the results of this study are: 1). It is necessary to instill religious values and moral values for each community so that they know which actions violate religion and which violate cultural customs. 2). The community should be more careful in deciding everything, especially in the matter of the pa'bate tau tradition so that its implementation can run according to the prevailing religion and customs. 3). This research is expected to be the preservation of the pa'batte tau tradition for the community so that no one deviates and goes outside the boundaries of religious values and even customs

Reflections on music therapy with older adults from an ethnographic perspective

PurposeOlder adults often navigate periods of disruptive transition, such as rehousing, that can be understood in terms of ritual transformation, a concept that describes changes to the social self in terms of deconstruction, liminality and reconstruction. Music therapy can assist older adults’ movement through these stages. This paper aims to engage theoretical perspectives on ritual to consider the social and cultural transformation of these residents of a long-term care nursing home.Design/methodology/approachEthnographic theory and literature on the ritual process are used to reflect on one music therapist’s (first author’s) experience providing music therapy to older adult residents of a long-term care nursing home. The therapist facilitated a collaborative “healing story” whose performative aspects engaged the residents in their own healing process. These experiences culminated in a group songwriting experience with a resident choir ensemble.FindingsThe healing narrative involved aspects of the person, selfhood, relationship and culture more than elements of physicality or functional abilities. Music therapists working with older adults may find this theoretical perspective informative in interpreting resident behaviors and needs, identifying and addressing therapeutic goals and fostering a healing narrative.Originality/valueCare and interventions for older adults are often guided by the biomedical model of aging as an illness. While sociological and psychological theories of aging offer alternatives, these are not always prominent in interventions. This exploration of aging and transition as ritual transformation offers one such needed and insightful perspective to inform practice.

Symbols of Time in Russian Wedding Folklore of Udmurtia

The article is devoted to the study of the system of artistic images of Russian wedding folklore of the modern Udmurt Republic. The relevance of the work is due to the fact that the temporal processes of the wedding ritual itself, as well as family-clan and natural rhythms are first considered on the example of wedding folklore that exists in the territory of the modern republic. Particular attention is paid to the images of heavenly bodies, the kingdom of plants, zooand ornithomorphic images, the symbolism of sound signals. The sun is shown to be the central artistic image associated with the display of time. As a result of the analysis, it was found that semantically, the images of evening dawn, morning dawn and night have significant similarities. The question of the possible division of the night into two time periods is considered — a dark one, which does not correspond to a wedding situation, and a light one, which regulates the course of ritual time. It is shown that the image of the night is a symbol of the first conjugal intercourse. It has been established that the mention of the trumpet and the bell in the songs emphasizes the sacred status of the wedding ceremony. It is noted that in wedding songs, the symbolism of the sound of the bell and trumpet merges with the symbolism of the sun. It was revealed that in the description of emporal processes there may be categories of morality.

Embracing Liminality and "Staying with the Trouble" on (and off) Screen

Embracing Liminality and "Staying with the Trouble" on (and off) Screen