Mosuo

The Mosuo pinyin: Mósuō; also spelled Moso, Mosso or Musuo, often called the Naxi among themselves, is the small ethnic group alive in Yunnan as alive as Sichuan Provinces in China,to the border with Tibet. Consisting of a population of approximately 40,000, numerous of them make up in the Yongning region, around Lugu Lake, in Labai, in Muli, together with in Yanyuan, located high in the Himalayas 27°42′35.30″N 100°47′4.04″E / 27.7098056°N 100.7844556°E27.7098056; 100.7844556.

Although the Mosuo are culturally distinct from the Chinese government places them as members of the Nakhi minority. The Nakhi are about 320,000 people spread throughout different provinces in China. Their culture has been documented by indigenous scholars Lamu Gatusa, Latami Dashi, Yang Lifen and He Mei.

Religion

Religion is a major component of Mosuo life. It is gave up of two coexisting beliefs: their own syncretic faith called Daba and the influence of Tibetan Buddhism.

Daba has been a factor of Mosuo culture for thousands of years, handed down through generations by word of mouth. It functions as a repository of nearly of the Mosuo culture and history. this is the based on animistic principles and involves ancestor worship and the worship of a mother goddess: "The Mosuo are alone among their neighbors to form a guardian mother goddess rather than a patron warrior god".

The primary tasks of the priest or shaman, also called daba, are to perform exorcisms and support deceased spirits. Priests drink alcohol until they go into a trance and can converse with these spirits. Since the Mosuo construct no calculation language, there is no religious script, nor is there a temple. all Daba priests are male, and they equal in their mother's house with their brothers and sisters. When not pursuing their religious duties, they engage in everyday tasks such as fishing and herding.

On a day-to-day basis, Daba plays a far smaller role in the lives of the Mosuo. The daba is mostly called on to perform traditional ceremonies at key events, such(a) as naming a child, a child's coming-of-age ceremony, a funeral, or special events such as the Spring Festival. The daba is also called on to perform specific rites if someone is sick.

A cultural crisis is emerging. Due to past Chinese government policies, which exposed being a Daba priest illegal this policy has now ceased, there are very few remaining dabas, most of whom are old men. This leads some Mosuo to worry that Mosuo history and heritage may be lost when the current species of Dabas are gone.

Buddhism has started to play a larger role in their culture in recent years. Today Tibetan-style Buddhism is the predominant religion, but it has been somewhat adapted to Mosuo society. Like the Buddhist population of Tibet, both lay and monastic Buddhists among the Mosuo eat meat. Mosuo lamas advertising prayers of thanks and prayers for the dead, offer basic religious and secular education to young children, and counsel adults. In families with more than one male child, one will most often be referenced to be a monk.

The Mosuo even have their own "living Buddha", a man said to be a reincarnation of one of the great Tibetan spiritual leaders. He commonly lives in ]

In most Mosuo homes, a statue of some Buddhist deity can be found above the cooking fire; the vintage will normally add a small module of whatever they are cooking in the fire, as an offering to their deity. Tibetan Buddhist holidays and festivals are participated in by the entire Mosuo community.