The unique way of casting lots among the Thai people of Nghe An.

(Baonghean.vn) - The Thai people in western Nghe An have three ways of fortune telling: dropping rice on an egg, sticking a sword into a bowl of rice, and tossing heads or tails, with the purpose of...Verify whether the 'higher authority' has approved what you are doing.

Watch the clip of the shaman scattering rice on eggs to cast a divination:

During the ritual to redeem the soul of the deceased, after performing the necessary steps, the shaman will scatter rice on two eggs. Photo: Dinh Tuan.

Before casting the divination, the shaman will choose an odd or even number to pray for. If the shaman chooses an odd number, when dropping rice grains onto the egg, the number of grains sticking to the egg must be 1, 3, 5..., at which point the soul has been redeemed and returned home. Photo: Dinh Tuan.

If you ask for an even number of grains of rice, after releasing them into the egg, they must stick to the egg in an even number, such as 2, 4... This means that the "higher powers" have approved. Photo by Dinh Tuan.

Watch the clip of the shaman using a sword to cast a divination:

In divination using a sword, the shaman uses a bowl of rice and an egg. After making a request, the shaman takes the sword and sticks it into the bowl of rice, shaking it back and forth three times before releasing it. If the sword remains standing in the rice bowl, it means the matter has been "approved" by the spirits. Even if the sword remains standing, the shaman will use a fan to fan vigorously three times; if the sword doesn't fall, the divination is considered very auspicious, and everything will go smoothly. (Photo: Dinh Tuan)

Besides the two methods of fortune telling mentioned above, the Thai people also cast lots using two bamboo sticks (these two sticks must be taken from two different bamboo plants) and a wooden stick. This fortune-telling is usually not done indoors but mainly in the garden... Photo: Dinh Tuan.

The shaman will use two bamboo sticks to strike a wooden stick forcefully, then release them. If one stick lands face up and the other face down, the ritual is complete and successful. Photo: Dinh Tuan.

Dinh Tuan