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Mosuo: A Mysterious Matriarchal Group in China
Once a member of a group dies, the corpse is first cleansed by
a member of the family and a Lama priest. Afterwards, a male body is cleaned
again with nine cups of liquor; seven cups are used to clean a female corpse.
The body is then bound using hemp and the deceased's hands are placed on his or
her chest. A male's left hand is positioned to rest on top and the left leg is
crossed over the right one. A female's right leg is crossed over the left one. A
hole is dug in the yard of the deceased's home and the body is put into the hole
in a white cloth; it is then covered with a big cooker. Above the cooker lies a
bamboo basket with the deceased's clothing. Before the hole is a table filled
with food. Traditionally, the body will remain there for one night or for up to
20 days, after which there will be a cremation ceremony called "Ji zang
".
During "Ji zang ", a 1-meter square coffin is made using the wood of a
felled tree. At the site specially prepared for the rite, four stakes are driven
into the ground with room for the coffin in between them. One day prior to the
cremation, a priest will select the time and site, including a miniature house
constructed for the remaining bones and ashes of the cremated body.
On the day of cremation, at dawn, three gunshots are fired into the air; the
body is wrapped in a white cloth is placed inside the coffin to be transported
out of the village to the cremation site. Family, relatives and neighbors are
all dressed in mourning clothes. Males wear a white hat made of flax and females
plait their hair with flax. They mourners cry all the way to the cremation site.
On arrival the coffin is set alight, which is conducted by the priest. After the
fire is lit, a flax hat and clothing, including the deceased's clothes, are
thrown into the fire.
Finally, family and relatives bow and bid their final farewell.
After the fire goes out, it is time to collect the
cremated remains of the deceased. The mourners pick up the remains from the feet
and finish at the head. Then, the ashes are carried by two shamans to the family
grave. At the grave, the ashes are placed under a tree so the deceased can have
an early rebirth. Facing the ashes, the following words are recited: "I will go
for the water, please wait for me." Another mourner then says: "I will go for
the firewood, please wait for me." With these words, they run towards opposite
directions.
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the time and site, including a miniature house
constructed for the remaining bones and ashes of the cremated body.
