Southern China: shamans and the Kitchen God

[CHINA.GUANGXI 25.219] ’Out-door lesson.’ At a school in Daning, north-east of Hexian, teachers are giving an out-door lesson in Chinese geography. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[CHINA.GUANGXI 25.239] ’Daning.’ Market at Daning, north-east of Hexian. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[CHINA.GUANGXI 25.251] ’Dragon-dance.’ A New Year dragon-dance is performed by members of the Miao mountain tribe at a village 20 km east of Hexian. In the foreground a table with offerings for the Miao gods can be seen. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[CHINA.GUANGXI 25.261] ’Shaman of Miao tribe-1.’ At a village 20 km east of Hexian a shaman of the Miao mountain tribe holds a ritual sword and has his cheeks pierced by a golden pin. The yellow papers at his belt are fu-talismans, the burnt rests of which can be used as a medicine. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[CHINA.GUANGXI 25.269] ’Shaman pupil of Miao tribe.’ At a village 20 km east of Hexian a shaman pupil of the Miao mountain tribe is surrounded by tribe members. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[CHINA.GUANGXI 25.274] ’Doing the dishes.’ At San Wang Miao, a village of the Miao mountain tribe, some men are doing the dishes after a New Year temple-fair. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[CHINA.GUANGXI 25.281] ’Collecting temple-gifts.’ Temple-officials are collecting and registering New Year gifts to the village temple at San Wang Miao, a village of the Miao mountain tribe, 20 km east of Hexian. After completion the red registers are glued tot the temple-wall. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[CHINA.GUANGXI 25.292] 'Surrounded by village elder-2.' A shaman pupil and his mother are surrounded by village elder in their temple during a New Year festivities at San Wang Miao, a village of the Miao mountain tribe. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[CHINA.GUANGXI 25.302] ’Shaman pupil in temple.’ A shaman pupil sits before the offering table in a temple during New Year festivities at San Wang Miao, a village of the Miao mountain tribe. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[CHINA.GUANGXI 25.310] ’Procession of Miao mountain tribe (2).’ During New Year festivities east of Hexian, members of a Miao mountain tribe carry a covered sedan-chair concealing ritual images through the fields. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[CHINA.GUANGXI 25.312] 'Procession with Miao shamans-2.' During New Year festivities in the Hejiang valley east of Hexian, members of a Miao mountain tribe carry their shamans in sedan-chairs. The cheeks of the shamans are pierced by golden pins as proof of their special powers. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[CHINA.GUANGXI 25.317] ’Special powers.’ During New Year festivities in the Hejiang valley east of Hexian, members of a Miao mountain tribe carry a shaman in a sedan-chair. The shaman is standing barefoot on sharp ridges as a proof of her special powers. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[CHINA.GUANGXI 25.321] ’Ping-pong.’ In the last rays of the evening sun villagers are playing ping-pong on a square in Tongan, 45 km south-east of Yangshuo. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[CHINA.GUANGXI 25.224] ’Gathering ‘douchy’.’ At Daning, north-east of Hexian, after having been dried on big round plates, this worker is gathering ‘douchy’ in baskets. ‘Douchy’ are fermented soya beans which are used as a food spice. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[CHINA.GUANGXI 25.248] ’Road-side shrine.’ Small road-side shrine at Daning, north-east of Hexian. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[CHINA.GUANGXI 25.256] ’Pig’s head.’ During New Year festivities at a village 20 km east of Hexian a shaman of the Miao mountain tribe is carried in a sedan-chair to an offering table which displays among others a pig’s head. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[CHINA.GUANGXI 25.266] 'Shaman of Miao tribe-2.' At a village 20 km east of Hexian a shaman of the Miao mountain tribe holds a ritual sword and has his cheeks pierced by a golden pin. The yellow papers at his belt are fu-talismans, the burnt rests of which can be used as a medicine. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[CHINA.GUANGXI 25.273] 'Waiting for hot water.' At San Wang Miao, a village of the Miao mountain tribe, cooks are waiting till the water boils during a New Year temple-fair. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[CHINA.GUANGXI 25.277] ’Fortune-teller.’ At San Wang Miao, a village of the Miao mountain tribe, tribe-members gather around the offering-table in the village temple during New Year festivities. The fortune-teller of the village is seated at the table by a large book with spells. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[CHINA.GUANGXI 25.289] ’Surrounded by village elder-1.’ A shaman pupil and his mother are surrounded by village elder in their temple during a New Year festivities at San Wang Miao, a village of the Miao mountain tribe. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[CHINA.GUANGXI 25.296] ’Shaman pupil and his mother.’ A shaman pupil and his mother sit before the offering table in a temple during New Year festivities at San Wang Miao, a village of the Miao mountain tribe. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[CHINA.GUANGXI 25.308] ’Procession of Miao mountain tribe (1).’ In the Hejiang valley east of Hexian, members of a Miao mountain tribe file in procession through the fields during New Year. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[CHINA.GUANGXI 25.311] ’Procession with Miao shamans-1.’ During New Year festivities in the Hejiang valley east of Hexian, members of a Miao mountain tribe carry their shamans in sedan-chairs. The cheeks of the shamans are pierced by golden pins as proof of their special powers. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[CHINA.GUANGXI 25.315] ’Miao shaman.’ In the Hejiang valley east of Hexian, members of a Miao mountain tribe carry a shaman in a sedan-chair. Photo Mick Palarczyk.

[CHINA.GUANGXI 25.319] ’Carrying water.’ A farmer’s wife is carrying water to cabbage fields at the foot of eroded lime-stone hills near Gong An, 32 km west of Hexian. Photo Mick Palarczyk.