Na-khi religion: An analytical appraisal of the Na-khi ritual texts (Religion and society ; 8)

The series Religion and Society (RS) contributes to the exploration of religions as social systems– both in Western and non-Western societies; in particular, it examines religions in their differentiation from, and intersection with, other cultural systems, such as art, economy, law and politics. Due attention is given to paradigmatic case or comparative studies that exhibit a clear theoretical orientation with the empirical and historical data of religion and such aspects of religion as ritual, the religious imagination, constructions of tradition, iconography, or media. In addition, the formation of religious communities, their construction of identity, and their relation to society and the wider public are key issues of this series. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 9 LIST OF TABLES 15 LIST OF MAPS AND DIAGRAMS 17 LIST OF PLATES 19 INTRODUCTION 23 Part One: Historical Background 29 1. BACKGROUND TO NA-KHI RELIGION 31 Historical introduction 31 Ecology 35 Ethnographic framework 37 The problem of the literature 41 Aims 47 2. KINSHIP, SUICIDE AND PICTOGRAPHS 50 Kinship 52 Suicide 68 Pictographs 81 Summary 95 Part Two: The Basic Structures 97 3. ELEMENTARY RITUAL CLASSIFICATION 99 Theoretical framework 99 The Na-khi cosmology 101 The incorporation of the environment 105 The symbolization of the environment 109 Ritual foci 112 4. THE BELIEF SYSTEM IN THE RITUAL FRAMEWORK 117 Beliefs 117 The rites of the Na-khi 128 Part Three: Analysis 183 5. THE CONSTRUCTION OF MYTH AND RITUAL 185 Origin stories 189 Sacrifice 193 Medicine 194 Stone and wood 196 Paths, bridges and gateways 198 Number theory 199 6. THE CONSTRUCTION OF RITES 207 7. THE RITES 226 Paradigm: Szi chung bpö 226 A synopsis of the Szi chung bpö manuscripts 228 The Szi chung bpö ceremony 228 The Szi chung bpö ritual 243 The structure of Na-khi ritual 245 Conclusion 249 8. THE SUBCEREMONIES 250 Paradigm: Tso mber ssaw 250 Conclusion 277 9. THE DOMINANT SYMBOLS 281 Paradigm: Ssu 281 The Ssu Life god 282 The Ssu serpent spirits 284 Discussion 286 General comment 292 Part Four: Conclusions 293 10.SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS 295 Summary 295 Conclusions 307 Part Five: Appendices 311 I. THE NA-KHI AND THE MO-SO 313 Na-khi or Mo-so? 313 Na-khi 314 Na-khi and Mo-so 317 Mo-so 319 Mo-so? 321 Na-khi? 323 Na-khi Religious Tradition 328 White and Black 330 Lo-Lo 331 White and Black Mo-so? 332 Conclusion 333 II. THE SZI CHUNG BPÖ RITUAL 335 The India Office and British Museum manuscripts 335 The Ddu Mun or Index books to the Szi chung bpö 343 Conclusion 361 III. COMPUTER ANALYSIS 363 NOTES TO CHAPTERS AND APPENDICES 368 BIBLIOGRAPHY 379 INDEX 387 Persons and institutions 387 Na-khi ritual ceremonies and subceremonies 388 Na-khi names and terms 389 Tribes mentioned 393 Subject matter 394 Anthony Jackson. Based On The Author's Thesis, Gothenburg, 1970. Includes Indexes. Bibliography: P. 339-345.