Rituals of Taiwan - Cultural Attributes of Marriage, Death - Essay Example

Rituals of Taiwan In the study of nascent sciences, like anthropology, sociology, psychology, and the history of religion, rituals have paramount importance, as rituals are regarded as the inseparable twin of myth. Religious beliefs are expressed through ritualized behavior and festivals, and most cultures and religions mark major life-course transitions such as birth, marriage and death with public ritual expressions. Many ancient rituals and traditional festivals help preserve some legends and inspiring and touching stories of the bygone era. Study of rituals in Taiwan, a country with cultural and religious diversity, will be inspirational in this context. It has to be believed that the concrete religious practices, such as community festivals, calendrical festivals, rites of cosmic renewals, and family oriented and individual religious rituals of Taiwan are culminated from the fusion of local and national traditions. Thus, it is an attempt at unraveling intricacies of rituals in the sphere of: (1) how does the ritual reflect the values of a community; (2) what are the underlying consequences of the ritual; (3) what is the stated purpose of the ritual; and (4) what behavior does this ritual make it seem natural or normal, in the socio-cultural Taiwanese perspective. Anthropologists and sociologists are interested in ritual studies, because discussions about rituals have key cultural importance and social concern. They take ritual events as “a mirror to reflect the larger problems of particular interests in an ethnographic case that become amenable to analysts” (Husken). Rituals are viewed to act as powerful mechanisms for constructions of the self and the other, of personal and collective identities, and are generally held to have benign effects. They bring core cultural values, ideology, knowledge and dramatic style to bear on real social relationships, problems and difficulties, often at key moments of transition or intensification. Social scientists view that ritual action is a conscious social mechanism of symbolic actions that reinforces the status quo by overwhelming the practitioner with a feeling of moral obligation to adhere to societal sentiments, which stress the importance of maintaining social structure.In short, rituals are often at the centre of the play of social and cultural forces operating in a society. The cultural attributes of marriage, death, as well as religious practices are considered fundamental to the cultural make-up and identity of a country. Taiwan is a country where past, present and future are all inextricably inter-woven. Its ancient culture stands in stark contrast to the modern and industrialized way of life found in cities like Taipei. Studies on the history of Taiwan reveal that it had an endless change due to continuous arrival of new culture that brought new traditions, ideas, and philosophies. The earliest original tribes of the island were from Asia. Immigrants from Fujian in China arrived in 15th century. Subsequent migration was from Northern China, people called Hakka, and along with Fujian they created a new Taiwanese society. The Portuguese sailors landed on Taiwan named it ‘Formosa’ meaning beautiful, and there was also colonization effort by Dutch, Chinese, and Japanese subsequently. Following the defeat of Japan in the Second World War, Taiwan was re-occupied by China. Under the leadership Chiang Kai-shek, the Kuomintang (KMT) party formed Taiwan’s constitution and adopted new flag, aimed at creating modern Taiwan. The majority inhabitants of Taiwan are descendants of Han Chinese, who migrated to Taiwan in the early 1600s, and the complex cultural configurations found in Taiwan at present can easily be seen as Chinese culture with Taiwanese characteristics. With the migration of Chinese to Taiwan the original inhabitants were forced to adopt new culture and amalgamate it with their own tradition. Taiwanese religion is much diverse and the three dominant religions are Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism. Christianity, Islam, Mormonism, and Hinduism are also practiced here. Taiwan is dotted with numerous temples dedicated to Lord Buddha, Taoism as well as common gods in folk belief, for example Wangyeh and Matsu. Buddhism, one of the old religions, came from India and the basic principle of Buddhist teaching is overcoming of human desire, which is the chief cause of the universal suffering that dominates all of our lives. The Taiwanese version of Buddhism is a combination of a number of Chinese sects and Taoism. Taoism is the main native religion of China, and its central principle is the ‘Tao’ or the ‘Way’ in which the world works. Taoist principles strongly value patience and tolerance and the virtue of inaction over action. Worship of ancestors and respect for elders is important part of Confucian belief, and it is considered as the foundation of civil society and social order. The religious influences of Taoism and Buddhism have left indelible marks on the aboriginals in remodeling their rituals. The forms of rituals and festivals in Taiwan are devotional rites, sacrifices, calendrical rites, rites of passage, carnival, and fasting, which constitutes part of holiday activities. The major holiday activities in Taiwan can be divided into folk celebrations and aboriginal rituals. The three major folk festivals are Spring Festival (Chinese New Year), Dragon Boat Festival, and Mid-Autumn Festivals. Each celebration carries unique history, and most are held to bring peace and good fortune by asking gods to protect the public from disease and natural disasters. It is estimated that “there are about 150 indigenous rituals spread over Taiwan, having different cultural character of various tribes or clans.” (Taiwan Festivals). Traditional culture of Taiwan has been influenced by predominant Chinese culture of the island. But, the native tribes have remained homogenous and culturally pure due to their pride in upholding tradition and rituals. There are 12 main aboriginal tribes in Taiwan, and majority of the tribes are found in the mountainous areas and each tribe has its won culture, lifestyle, language and stories, which is still alive today. “Amis is Taiwan’s biggest aboriginal tribe” among the twelve, namely: Amis, Atayal, Bunun, Kavalan, Paiwan, Puyuma, Rukai, Saisiyar, Thao, Truku, Tsou, and Yami. (Aboriginal Tribes and Festivals). The festival and rituals of aboriginals are marked with full of piety, color, and activities, and their important festivals are lantern festival, the flying fish festival, moon festival, ear shooting festival, and ghost festival. While considering rituals of Taiwan, two of the most important of them that hold attention in the present context are Lantern festival and Ghost festival. These two have more connection between the dead and the living, when considering the environmental pollution generated in the name of upholding ritual sanctity that may send the living to the dead very early. Lantern Festival also called Little New Year, held on the first full moon night of the lunar calendar, is observed as one of the most important and romantic festival in Taiwan. The festival marks lengthening of daylight hours and the coming of spring after the New Year, and is celebrated with lantern making, lantern riddle games, and displays of glittering decorative lanterns. During Lantern Festival thousands of Taiwanese light lanterns and send those skyward with prayers, and it is also used to send plea to the gods for romantic intervention. It is believed that lanterns were first used as a means of communication between two distant places and the villagers released heavenly lanterns to the sky to let others know that they were safe and sound. Ghost Festival, like Halloween in the West, is all about ghosts and spirits, it is believed that during seventh month of lunar calendar the gates of underworld are opened and ghosts return to this world. Buddhist celebration of Ghost month is known as “Uallambana Festival while Taoist calls it Jhogyuan Festival” [Chung Yuan Festival] (Introduction: Celebrating the Traditional Way in Modern Times). The traditional Chung Yuan Festival originated in Taoist beliefs about the kingdom of ‘Yang’ (the living) and ‘Yin’ (the dead). Buddhist teaching emphasize on the universal deliverance of the living, as well as the dead, and to bringing beauty and goodness into the world for ever. The Buddhist Ullambana ( meaning deliverance from suffering) has its origin in the story of Mogallana saving his mother from Hades. The legend is that a Buddhist follower Mogallana discovered that his mother was in hell, suffering hunger and torture. Mogallana organized offerings and prayer on the 15th day of the seventh month in an effort to release his mother from hell, which was successful. The followers take it as an example to show their reverence for deceased ancestors and an attempt to give redemption to the estranged soul. The Ghost festival is held in the Elders Temple of Keelung, north of Taipei on the first day of the seventh lunar month, the day of “Opening of the Gates of Hades”. (find articles). The rituals include opening the ghost gate, rotation among local clans in leading the Pu Du ceremony, and ‘Dou’ lamps (symbols of blood ties used to dispel malevolent influence). The folk legend is that if the family fails to present sufficient offerings during the Pu Du activities, that family will be revenged by wandering ghosts. In the agricultural society villages used to take turns sponsoring Pu Du rituals on the 15th day of lunar July, and arrange lavish offerings collectively, thus the poor families are also involved in the rituals. Lanterns intended to light the way for ghosts at night are hung on long bamboo poles erected in front of each temple and floating water lantern placed in river so that the spirits could enjoy lavish offerings prepared by the living for their salvation. Lantern symbolizes peoples concern for the suffering of spirits in the underworld. This compassion serves to integrate all the realms of Heaven and Earth, human beings and gods, into one, which is the true spirit behind the Zhong Yuan Pu Du Festival. The end of the PuDu rituals on lunar July 30th is observed as the ghost chasing performance of Zhong Guei, to scare the ghosts back to the underworld. With the devout attitude that heaven, earth, and human beings are all filled with love, people make their sacrifice to the spirits, as an expression of their concern for all beings both visible and invisible. Ghost festival is an occasion for offering sacrifices to ghosts, and an opportunity to perform rites in honour of their ancestors. It is also an opportunity to develop a spirit of filial piety, and to learn to emulate the work ethic of their ancestors. Each clan association make the procession an occasion to present legends and anecdotes relating to the clan’s surname through fun and festivities. Taiwanese burns ritual money, during the annual Ghost Festival, to benefit household gods and ghosts. Bamboo paper money painted with auspicious symbols is burnt at temples as well as entrances to homes and offices, to honour Taoist and Buddhist deities and to welcome the spirits of the dead during Ghost month. The festival is also to commemorate disputes over land and water among immigrants, frequent bloodshed ensuing from it, and an attempt to end the inter-group fighting. The Ghost Festival is more than an appeasement of and expression of awe for wandering ghosts, but a symbol of inter-ethnic harmony, compassion, cooperation, and intercultural interaction. Hence, it is considered as one of the most important folk rituals in Taiwan that continues unbreakable bonds of clan loyalty. However, in an environmental point of view and considering the health aspects of the people the Festival of lanterns and Ghost Festival should come under scrutiny. The remnants of Sky lanterns and floating lanterns may pollute the environment, and also lead to fire hazards. Burning of paper ‘Ghost money’ during major festivals and in ancestor worship is also a major concern for environmental pollution and health hazard, as it releases ‘benzene and other carcinogenic chemicals” (Adams, Jonathan, 2008). Though sky lanterns make much garbage and damage environment, Taiwanese prefer to protect and respect their cultural tradition that date back centuries. Apart from religious rituals it is also interesting to study the social customs of Taiwanese. They respect their social customs, which are part of their life and culture. In Taiwanese homes guests are requested to remove their shoes as they pride themselves in maintaining a clean floor at home. Gift giving is customary in Taiwanese society, and their tradition dictates that a gift be presented with two hands and received with two hands. Talking about accidents and death are taken as bad omen and white is associated with death. Generally death is a forbidden topic of discussion in Taiwan. There are different rituals associated with marriage, birth, and death in Taiwan, depending on the religious belief. Marriage rituals begin with matching horoscope of the bride and groom. If the union is approved both families exchange gifts that may include jewelry, shoes, pagoda shaped candles, goldfish, and chopsticks. These gifts symbolize the family hope for abundance and the wish for a male offspring. Red wedding invitations are intended to send a message to the guests to bring money for the newly wed. Gifts are usually money placed in a red envelope and the amount should never include number four, which is considered as an unlucky number. It is important for every Taiwanese to have children and many rituals are performed to give birth to a male child. The pregnant woman is protected from any bad influence, and the spirits and ghosts are kept away with a small mirror. During pregnancy the couple appeals to the divinities to protect the child from the spirit of the embryo, and a preventive talisman is worn by the pregnant women. Red candle is lighted to exorcise the wandering souls that quarrel the body of the child to be reincarnated. The superstitions during the pregnancy continue after delivery, and mother and new-born are protected from fatal effects by keeping them secluded for a month. Exploring the diversity of rituals and attitudes surrounding death, in the context of various cultural and religious tenets, reveal that the funeral ritual is vital to ensure safe passage of the deceased into the afterlife. Death of a family member is a special time in the life of a Taiwanese, and one must act in a filial manner to be respected by society. At the time of death paper money is burned as an offering to ensure that the person has money to his/her credit in the next life. The funeral is held on an auspicious day to prevent attack from dangerous monsters known as ‘yau-kuai’. It is customary to place a rock, a hard-boiled egg, and some pickle bean paste in the coffin for good luck, along with a peach branch to chase away gods on the road to the abode of the dead. Offering cooked food along with wine and bowls of rice are part of funeral service. Rice, nails, or money is given to the children as a token that they will be faithful family members of the ancestors and will be blessed with food, money, and male heirs. (Grandi). It is assumed that “rituals have an efficacy of their own, which they develop in the concrete moment of their actual execution through the embodiment of cultural themes” (Rudolph). The rituals are procedures for constituting individual, social, and cultural identity that take place through ritual practices. Rituals have the potential not only to confirm and thus to sustain, but also to transform the experience of social reality and even to generate it in the first place. They are relatively fixed and repetitive forms fitted in a particular way to the events, which people celebrate and facilitate according to the knowledge transferred from generation to generation, and they present a particular version of the human relationship with natural forces. It is believed that the outcome of negotiations within the ritual will influence the wider context just to the extent that the outcome of negotiations in the socio-political field will influence the ritual performances. According to Frank A. Salamone “Shifting historical circumstances, changing social configurations, subtle political rivalries and maneuverings, important recent events, and all sorts of other contingencies affect the climate and context within which rituals are performed, the circumstances out of which they arise and to which they are addressed.” (Salamone). Historically changing social values, shifts in social sentiments, or new implications for conventional symbols, all alter or affect the significance of a ritual being performed. Though it is unclear when rituals first originated, it play a central role in human affairs Some assume that ritual, like dance, music, symbolism, and language, arose in the course of the evolution of primate into man or even prior to it, and facilitated processes of adaptation. Rituals reflect the inseparable relation with everyday life and the age, clan, and class system of the people concerned. The rituals held seasonally or annually reflect the cultural meaning, belief, and lifestyle of indigenous people. It may be concluded that the rituals of Taiwan make the spiritual symbols of the indigenous people and their traditional culture, though there was fusion of different religious and cultural doctrines in the annals of Taiwan. According to C.T Su, Director General of Taiwan’s Tourism Bureau “The traditional culture is firmly rooted in the hearts and minds of the Taiwanese people, and this is why they are renowned for their enthusiasm, courtesy and warmth” as Taiwan is “a free Chinese society which honours ancient traditions. (Burton). Work Cited Aboriginal Tribes and Festivals. Taiwan. 2007-2008. 09 Apr. 2008. . Adams, Jonathan. Taiwan Lantern Festival causes concern for environmentalists. (February 20, 2008) International Herald Tribune (Asia-Pacific) 14 Apr. 2008. http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/02/20/asia/lantern.php. Douglas Burton "Spirited traditions; Having exorcised the demons of SARS, Taiwans free spirits again are blowing in the wind during the annual Ghost Festival, where old China is on brilliant display - The World". Insight on the News. Sept 16, 2003. FindArticles.com. 14 Apr. 2008. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1571/is_2003_Sept_16/ai_107543548 Grandi, Scott F. Contextualization and Taiwanese Funeral Rites. Taiwan Mission. 1992. 09 Apr. 2008. . History. Taiwan. 2007-2008. 09 Apr. 2008. . Husken, Ute. Ritual Studies: When Rituals go Wrong: Mistakes, Failure, and the Dynamics of Ritual. Wordtrade.com Religion. 2007. 09 Apr. 2008. . Introduction: Celebrating the Traditional Way in Modern Times. Taiwan.net.tw. 2006. 09 Apr. 2008. . Rudolph, Michael. Title of Super – Ordinate Research Project: Dynamics and Efficacy of Ritual Performance and the Constitution of Socio – Cultural Identity in Taiwan, Japan and Morocco. 09 Apr. 2008. . Salamone, Frank A (Ed). Ritual Studies: Encyclopedia of Religious Rites, Rituals and Festivals. Religion and Society: Routledge. Wordtrade.com Religion. 2007. 09 Apr. 2008. . Taiwan Festivals: Aboriginal. 2005. 09 Apr. 2008. . Burton, Douglas. Spirited traditions; Having exorcised the demons of SARS, Taiwans free spirits again are blowing in the wind during the annual Ghost Festival, where old China is on brilliant display - The World. BNET. 16 Sep. 2003. 14 Apr. 2008. . Read More

 

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