Specific Rituals Research Articles

Song Dynasty Family Rituals and the Reconstruction of Confucian Daily Life

Abstract The reconstruction of Confucianism during the Song dynasty is an important issue in the history of Chinese thought. Song scholar-officials not only introduced ideological innovations and founded the new type of Confucianist “School of Universal Principle” known as “Neo-Confucianism,” but also, in their reconstruction of Confucianism, attended to the specific rituals and introduced the concepts and values of the school into people’s daily life and habits. The observance of ritual privately at home – using ritual to “instruct” and “admonish” the family – became the way for scholar-officials to embody Confucian values effectively in daily life. Song family rituals developed differences from previous eras with respect to text, structure, and meaning. However, as rituals that comprehensively arranged the order of Confucian daily life, they were not merely a static Neo-Confucian text and system. Rather, scholar-officials’ ritual activities were always the concrete, dynamic aspect of the Confucian revival movement. Therefore, we must begin the discussion of family rituals from a wider perspective, first by exploring the motivation and goals of scholar-officials’ rituals. We will then discover how frustrated and compromised scholar-officials of the period felt when the pattern of daily life they had created proved difficult to accommodate to the real world. We will finally take note of the value system that this pattern was meant to demonstrate.

Babürnâme’deki Örneklerden Hareketle Türk-Moğol Kültüründe Yadacılık Geleneği

The practice of yadačılıq involves manipulating weather elements such as rain, snow, and storms through specific rituals or stones. Throughout history, those who engaged in these practices have been bestowed titles like yatčı, yadačı, and cayčı, distinguishing them from individuals referred to as qam or shaman. The tradition of yadačılıq persisted among Turks and other Central Asian communities, spanning from ancient times to more recent centuries. Over this period, numerous sources have offered insights into this subject. One such illuminating source on these rituals and beliefs is the Bāburnāma, a memoir and diary-style account authored by Babur Shah, a notable figure from the 16th century. Within this work, Babur Shah documented his experiences, observations, and encounters during his rule. Significantly, the Bāburnāma includes explicit references to the terms yadačı and yadačılıq, underscoring the continuity of these beliefs within the societal fabric of the 16th century. The intent of our article is to emphasize the existence of yadačis and the beliefs encompassing yadačılıq across diverse Turkish and Mongolian communities, both in the past and the present, dispelling the notion that this practice is merely a legend.

Gerakan Samin: Konflik Hutan, Ratu Adil dan Perlawanan Kultural Petani Blora

The Samin movement is a consequence of the accumulation of people's misery due to the oppressive policies of the Dutch colonial government and is motivated by the uniformity of the mindset of the masses regarding the belief in the emergence of the figure of Ratu Adil within Samin Suro(se)ntiko. The purpose of this writing is to find out, identify the journey and development of the Samin Movement in Blora and interpret the character of Samin Suro(se)ntiko and his teachings. The Samin movement was not only a rejection of the colonial government's policies, but also influenced the culture, way of life and spirituality of its followers. Spirituality in the understanding of the Samin lies in the teachings of the ‘Agama Adam’ which is not an abstract doctrine but a gaman (weapon/life guide) and not a special ritual to the ‘Pengeran’ (God) but the behavior of everyday life. ‘Agama Adam’is actually the life guide (ageman) of the Samin people which is reflected clearly and concretely in their own lives. ‘Agama Adam’ is the basis for swagraha or non-violent resistance from the Samins. Without this source, it will be difficult to understand how the Samin as innocent poor farmers (wong cilik) have great courage in positioning themselves to oppose state power and reject it.

Mass of Malam Jumat Kliwon at Sendang Sriningsih: Sociological and Theological Insights

This research was conducted using qualitative methods. The method taken is to conduct interviews with 3 sources. This research is motivated by the author’s interest in the mass of malam jumat kliwon at the Sendang Sriningsih Maria Cave, Dalem, Klaten. The author feels that the mass of malam jumat kliwon is a form of inculturation in the Catholic Church, specifically for Catholicism in the Sriningsih area. In this research, the author wants to look at the meaning of the mass of malam jumat kliwon for the people in Sriningsih. The theoretical framework that the author takes is to use the Javanese philosophy of life according to Suwardi Endraswara’s book, Querida Amazonia Document which deals with inculturation, also from Gaudium et Spes which talks about the relationship of evangelization with culture. This research produces data that the people really feel the sincerity and solemnity of the mass of malam jumat kliwon, even though there is no special ritual in the celebration. The absence of special rituals is not a barrier for people to meet and find God.

Community Rehabilitation in the Recovery of People with Mental Disabilities in Cianjur Regency, West Java Province

Mental health is an important issue that cannot be ignored. The impact of poor quality of life, such as disability, neglect, inhumane treatment, not only on the sufferer, but also on the family, makes mental health issues need serious attention. Based on concern to make social rehabilitation for mental health disorders widely developed in Indonesian society, this study aim find out how community rehabilitation methods are used to recover people with mental disabilities in West Java. This study uses a qualitative approach with descriptive method. there are nine informants, including institutional administrators, people with mental disabilities who have recovered, and social service employees. Collecting data with in-depth interviews, observations, FGDs and study documentation. Qualitative data analysis with interactive techniques. The results of this study indicate that the methods used in social rehabilitation for people with mental disabilities are varied, namely using a medical approach in the form of drugs, and a religious and cultural approach, with reading the yellow book prayer, special rituals, and special treatment. The success of the recovery was recognized by each institution, as well as by the people with mental disabilities who recovered. The results also show that recovery does not mean returning to health, 100% normal, but recovering to be able to communicate with others, be independent and participate in family and community activities. The results also show that recovery varies, influenced by various factors. When viewed from the results of this study, the most important is the healing method used. The failure of recovery was also found, the cause was due to severe mental health conditions, inappropriate healing methods, and the lack of family support.
 Keywords: Mental Health, People with Disabilities, Social Rehabilitation, Community-Based Rehabilitation

Zeus and City Foundation Mythologem

 In all religions, whether pagan or monotheistic, the supreme deity is the creator of the universe and humans. However, Zeus cannot be credited with either. I believe the concept of Zeus as the father of the founders of countries and cities, important cultural     achievements, was developed to make up for the “deficiency”. Although not the creator of the world or the men, Zeus nevertheless engendered people who are at the origins of social life  (civilization) _ the heroes who built countries and cities, who challenged untrodden paths, lands and waters to reach the spots of power  and found a city. I will discuss the “city mythologem” based on the example of Thebes and Ilion. The way leading to a city is conceptualized as a conduit of culture, “fertilization” and cultivation. As regards the selection of city sites, the practice of looking for the so-called   “loci of power” goes back to prehistoric times. The city founders would perform special rituals before proceeding with cromlech-type settlement planning.According to primordial beliefs, all major cities have a sacral prototype. For example, constellations are the archetypes of all Babylonian cities. These archetypes not only precede their earthy correlates but abide forever in the celestial dimension. “Large cities”  play an important role in the history of humankind. Such are the cities of Thebes and Ilion.

Placating Kin: Rituals and Infertility

Newlywed couples in Telangana perform various rituals to get blessed with children, which usually take place soon after marriage. In the absence of immediate conception, the couple is advised by the extended family to perform specific rituals to appease fertility gods. This article attempts to document fertility rituals in the Telangana region and the crucial ways in which they help men diagnosed with infertility. It will discuss in detail a commonly performed ritual called Balamma. In addition, the article highlights rituals performed to propitiate snakes, the significance of horoscopes, and consultations with local “healer-astrologer-medicine man/woman”. The article suggests that the efficacy of these rituals should not be seen in whether they result in procreation. Rather, the main objective of the rituals is to placate the extended patrilineal family and shift attention and blame from the couple to angry supernatural beings. The article establishes the crucial role played by these rituals in safeguarding men diagnosed with infertility, as they are more reluctant than women to discuss their diagnosis.

BUGIS CULTURE DECONSTRUCTION IN NOVEL LA GALIGO 2

The representation of Bugis culture in La Galigo 2 illustrates the ancient Bugis people's way of life during the Bugis kingdom in South Sulawesi. Historically, the epic La Galigo, which inspired La Galigo 2, describes Bugis culture, an indigenous culture of Indonesia. This study aims at describing the portrayal of Bugis Culture deconstruction in the novel Lagaligo 2 from the perspective of life order and beliefs. The analytical method used deconstruction theory through the perspective of Derrida. The results of the analysis show that the cultural representation of Bugis in the novel La Galigo shows several variations of ancient Bugis culture. Bissu people, who live in numerous South Sulawesi locations, can speak with God. The special ritual of the bissu people is known as the bissu dance (maggirik). The term walasuji is a gate building made of woven bamboo, used by the Bugis for traditional parties, but now walasuji is used only for weddings for the Bugis. In addition, the ancient Bugis people sprinkled bertih on visitors in the welcoming ceremony as a symbol of respect and safety. Mutual respect for the Bugis is determined by the social strata that the nobility call puang or opu. The ancient Bugis people believed in the Dewata (God), Sang Patotoqe, but over time this belief began to erode because they had embraced a particular religion. The novel La Galigo 2 implies that in central Indonesia there is a mythology about the ancient Bugis community and the richness of Indonesia’s local culture.

GNAWA: SPIRITUAL SOUNDS OF HEALING SLAVERY, RITUALS, MUSIC

Morocco is known for its cultural and ethnic diversity. In this writing, I would like to shed light on a mystical ethnic group in Morocco that baffled many people from all over the globe; descendants of slaves who traced their origin to Sub-Saharan countries (Mali, Guinea, Ghana, Senegal, Niger). It also refers to a spiritual type of music that can be used as a method of healing with special rituals.

The Clothes Maketh the Cult

The Clothes Maketh the Cult

A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing: Crying Marriage in the Context of the Minority, the Oppressed Female and Local Culture

Crying Marriage is a special ritual of the Tujia family in the west of Hunan province, China. The reason why the Crying Marriage appeared so is that Tujia women lost their rights to marriage. The emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasty abolished local governments and dispatched officials from the capital to govern local people. Then, local people in different areas of China started to adapt the traditions of Han culture (the mainstream culture in China). In this case, since Han culture advocated arranged marriage, Tujia parents also started to arrange their daughters' marriages. Tujia women lost the right to marry so they started crying during their marriages, and then this behavior developed into a ritual. Also, during the development of Crying Marriage, more and more elements appeared, such as lyrics and skills. Although it seems like the purpose of Crying Marriage is to help Tujia women gain their rights, it backfired. On the contrary, Crying Marriage diverted people's attention from women's rights to appreciate this ritual. This study developed two concepts, Active Change, and Passive Change to explain this process.

Prayer and Buddhism? The Supreme Offering

AbstractHow can comparative categories be used with vigorous attention to historical context and cultural variation? My example is the concept of prayer applied to various forms of premodern Buddhism. After analyzing past attempts to square theocentric notions with Buddhism, I propose a more circumspect mode of comparison. Adopting a performative approach to the study of religious language, I stipulate prayer as “speech acts directed toward seen and unseen sentient beings.” This strategy broadens the addressees in prayer discourse to include Buddhas, bodhisattvas, minor gods, ghosts, spirits, and other beings. It also covers a wide range of Buddhist practice and focuses on exchange, morality, and bodily engagement. The article then analyzes a specific ritual, the supreme offering, found in many articulations across Buddhist cultures. The conclusion argues that this approach offers several insights. Engaging a wide range of beings in the cosmos, the supreme offering envisages a hierarchical moral community. The different steps in prayer highlight the importance of karma in Buddhist ritual. As a regimen of practice, the supreme offering aims at forming ethical dispositions and cultivating character.

Nomina Inserere Voluerint, Non Prohibeatur. Nominal Inscriptions Inside the Altar in the North-East of the Iberic Peninsula (9th-13th Centuries)

Some manuscripts of the 11th and 12th centuries preserved in Catalonia present a specific rite when a bishop had to consecrate a church. In the altar he placed relics, three fragments of hosts, three grains of incense and small parchments on which was written the information about the consecration, the ten commandments and the beginning of the four gospels. The Catalan consecration ritual corresponded to a specific liturgical codification, the Catalan-Narbonne ordo, which is generally accepted to have been strictly followed. However, archaeological excavations carried out in pre-Romanesque and Romanesque churches in Catalonia since the 19th century have often brought to light a practice that was not codified in these texts: the modest containers of wood, stone or alabaster that contained the consecration relics had been engraved with names. This paper is dedicated to these nominal inscriptions from the consecration ritual, found inside the altars.

Spiritual Communication of Selakaran Among Sasak Muslim Community During The Covid-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has introduced unparalleled challenges to individuals worldwide, resulting in substantial alterations in lifestyles. These alterations encompass the adoption of health protocols, such as social distancing and frequent handwashing. Nevertheless, it is noteworthy that certain Sasak Muslim communities have opted for a distinctive approach in confronting the pandemic. Their chosen strategy revolves around the performance of rituals. These rituals, executed collectively, are perceived by the Sasak Muslim community as a means to counteract the global COVID-19 pandemic. To comprehensively explore the significance of these rituals within the Sasak Muslim community's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, this qualitative research employs an ethnographic approach. The overarching goal is to gain insight into how these rituals are construed and employed by the community. The study's findings unveil that the Sasak Muslim community perceives the pandemic as a typical ailment, one that can be alleviated through a deepened connection with Allah. One of the primary methods through which this closeness is sought is an increased engagement in dhikr, which involves the remembrance of Allah, and prayers performed within the framework of specific rituals such as Selakaran.

Remaking the Church Catholic in Post-Maoist China

Abstract After the political reforms that followed the death of Mao Zedong, Chinese Catholics were gradually allowed to reestablish their churches and resume public gatherings. Yet this opened serious challenges. After decades of persecution and isolation, which reshaped the ways Chinese Catholics worshipped and perceived themselves, they needed to redefine Chinese Catholicism. Is performing specific rituals in both Latin and a local dialect, at home and in secret, enough to be Catholic? Who holds the religious authority to effectively administer the sacraments? To what extent is a formal relationship with the Pope necessary to remain Catholic? This article explores how Chinese Catholics have searched for support from outside their family circles and the People’s Republic of China to answer their questions. This paper argues that in a rapidly changing politico-economic context marked by strict administrative control, Chinese Catholics have reestablished contacts with Global Catholicism through networking with missionary societies. More specifically, I look at collaborations which Chinese Catholics have established with the Paris Foreign Missions (MEP) to reassess the missiology of Chinese Catholicism. Discussing the evolving nature of these relationships after 1978, I show that the reconstruction of Catholicism in China has been a multilateral enterprise in which local Catholics have had to navigate political adversity, socio-cultural changes, and the Post-Vatican II reformation of worldwide Catholicism. In so doing, Chinese Catholics gradually moved outside of the intimacy of kinship groups and pre-defined rituals to engage actively with modernizing Chinese society and transforming world Catholicism.

Qanan: Food Processing in the Culture of the Tehit People in West Papua

This article discusses about qanan which is a way to cook food that is typical for the Tehit tribe. Cooking patterns using qanan bark are not done every day, but only carried out on special rituals, for example, traditional, religious, and government events. The cooking begins with the preparation of meat, mixed with green spices and vegetables. The mixed ingredients that have been seasoned is arranged in the bark that has been dialed into the inside then tied with a rattan strap and roasted on a flame. The baked cooking material was rotated until the wooden skin was black. The surface appearance of black bark is an indicator of cooked meat and vegetables. Furthermore, when the bark is opened, meat and vegetables are removed and ready to be served. We use qualitative research methods in this study, with literature studies, observation, and interviews as data collection methods. The results show the wealth of knowledge and local wisdom of the Tehit ethnic group in processing food traditionally by the method of wrapping food using bark which is known as qanan. The taste of the food processed with the technique has the aroma of bark combined with the addition of spices that seep into the meat and vegetables. In addition, hot steam from combustion causes food to cook quickly and not scorched, and the process of maturation of food ingredients occurs evenly and delicious. The local wisdom of the Tehit people in the land of Papua is the wealth of Indonesia that must be maintained and preserved because the pattern of cooking Qanan is quite healthy since it does not use cooking oil. Patterns of local food processing in Tehit culture can be used as one of the strategies for overcoming cooking oil scarcity.

Nikolay Gogol and Raphael Patkanyan: The Philosophy of Horror

The article is dedicated to the study of the artistic impact of the Russian writer Nikolay Gogol (1809-1852) on the creation of the Armenian author Raphael Patkanyan (1830-1892). The object of the research is the horror stories and their philosophy. From this perspective, Patkanyan appears as a student of the Gogol school of horrors by masterfully using the artistic technique of his teacher. The first parallel is the place and time of the action. Night becomes the time axis of the stories, and the plot turns around national holidays - Russian Navi day, Ivan Kupala, Christmas, Armenian Carnival, etc. Actions take place in a cursed or enchanted place (a scary house, an old church, hell, a mortuary, a cemetery, etc.), which allows the two realities to collide, as a result of which extramundane forces penetrate into our world. By taking the national folklore as a basis, both authors set the plot of mythical characters in motion portraying witches, demons, spirits, zombies and other terrible creatures as antagonists. The works of both authors are similar in terms of some functional motifs like the sale of the soul to the devil, metamorphoses, dance and laughter of death, implying specific rituals.

Mappacci Interconnection in Bugis Tradition and Strengthening of Pangadereng (Ethics)

The purpose of the study illustrates that marriage contains good social values in character education. Ethnographic method is the research of the culture of a community. Ethnographic research involves extensive observations of the Bugis community in Tana Luwu, most often through participant observation, where researchers immersed in the daily lives of the community and observed and interviewed participants in the group. Bugis wedding ceremony in the implementation of mappacci or tudampenni means cleanliness of the body and sanctity of the soul. The value of sacredness is clearly seen from the implementation of various special rituals such as bathing refuse bala, reading barzanji things is the value of respect for women. On the other hand, community marriage has character values such as help; It is clearly a social value embodied in this tradition. The concept of help cannot be separated from the principle of gotong royong. Solidarity; The value of solidarity cannot be separated from this tradition. What's more, there has been a value that is maintained in this tradition, namely gotong royong and please help. Communicative; It is one of the most important parts of this tradition, because if there is no communication in any case, then it is very impossible that stage by stage of the implementation of the mappanre temme' tradition will be carried out. Ethics in Bugis culture can strengthen pangedereng (customs) and connect with each other.

Philosophical and Sociological Nature of the Indonesian Maubesi People’s Natoni Religion

The Atoni people of East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia, is a community with cultural values in the form of lyrics or dances to celebrate momentums in the lifecycle such as birth, marriage, death, welcoming guests, and the change of seasons, especially the planting season. This research is carried out in Maubesi village, North-Central Timor Regency. This is a qualitative type of research. The data is collected through profound observation and interviews. The researcher becomes the critical informant, and the data is analysed descriptively. From the results of this research, it may be concluded that the rites of the Natoni religion for the Maubesi People, North-Central Timor, East Nusa Tenggara is worship to Uis Neno, which is a belief inherited from the ancestors with special rites. These rites involve the customary structure, including the king, which is completed with rice and betels, and the slaughtering ceremony. This makes the Natoni religion a force or local wisdom which binds the Maubesi people who have embraced other religions such as Catholic and Protestant to carry out the syncretism process, revising the values of that belief. Such rites are then defined as the same as worshipping God the Almighty.

Aspek Sosial Budaya dalam Perawatan Kehamilan pada Masyarakat Pesisir Kabupaten Mamuju

Antenatal care is one of the most important factors in preventing complications during delivery to maintain optimal growth and health of the mother and fetus. It is crucial to understand the behavior of maternity care, especially those related to socio-cultural aspects in certain areas, to know the health impacts for the baby and the mother herself. The study aims to determine the socio-cultural aspects of antenatal care in the coastal area of Mamuju, namely in Karampuang Village and Beru-Beru Village, Mamuju Regency. The subjects of this study consisted of pregnant women as the key informants, community midwives as supporting informants, shamans, and community leaders. The results showed several socio-cultural aspects carried out in antenatal care by the community in the coastal area, relating to certain dietary restrictions, myths related to specific behaviors, and special rituals performed during the pregnancy period. These cultural aspects influenced maternal health positively and negatively. It is necessary to carry out effective communication synergistically and sustainably by health workers to produce changes in attitudes and behavior related to adverse antenatal care with an adaptive approach while respecting the good values in every aspect of the culture of beliefs held by the community.