Asian Folklore Studies, Volume 63, Issue 1 (2004). pp. 31-55.
Language:
English
Abstract:
The Hmong Ntoo Xeeb ceremony described in this text was conducted by the elders of Ban Mae Sa Mai (Mae Sa Mai village), located in Tambol Pong Yareng, Mae Rim District, Thailand, approximately thirty kilometers north of Chiang Mai. The Ntoo Xeeb ceremony is a principal New Year's ritual in which all responsible male heads of households in the village are expected to participate. This is a way of showing respect to all four benevolent spirits of the locality, with the Ntoo Xeeb spirit as the titular head, and to thank them for safeguarding the villagers over the past year. It constitutes one of the most sacred communal rituals undertaken by the villagers of Mae Sa Mai. This detailed description of the Ntoo Xeeb ceremony focuses on a particular ritual practice of the Hmong, and aims to encourage future scholarly inquiry about specifics of Hmong animist beliefs as manifested in ceremonial rituals. The article addresses lacunae in scholarly accounts of Hmong ceremonial ritual practices, which have led to confusion about particular aspects of Hmong shamanism.