Spirit medium ritual

(Baonghean) - Spirit mediumship, also known as Chau Van or Ngu Dong, is an important ritual in the Tam Phu - Tu Phu (Mother Goddess) worship tradition of our nation. Spirit mediumship ceremonies are held year-round, but are concentrated at the beginning of spring and the New Year. Understanding the true nature and meaning of the spirit mediumship ritual to restore its true value is a necessary and worthwhile endeavor.

Following a recommendation from Ms. TMC (Le Mao Ward, Vinh City), I went to Cui Temple (Nghi Xuan, Ha Tinh) to witness a spirit medium ritual at the beginning of the year. This time of year is called the Spring ritual, attracting a large number of mediums, assistant mediums, devotees, and disciples… The main medium today was Mr. H. - a small trader at Vinh market, whom everyone called "the young master." "The young master" was performing the Quan Hoang ritual, wearing a beautiful yellow outfit, with a majestic demeanor, combined with the chanting of praises for the merits and glorious reputation of "the deity," accompanied by skillful gong playing, creating a feeling of exhilaration for the viewers. Ms. TMC sat beside me, meticulously explaining the steps of the spirit medium ritual, then said: "Everyone here follows the Mother Goddess religion, worshipping the Saints and the Holy Mother. Coming to this ritual, everyone brings with them the intention of praying for national prosperity, peace for the people, favorable weather, and all things peaceful…"

A scene from a spirit medium ritual.

Observations show that the spirit medium ritual is performed very meticulously and systematically. The medium is considered to have a "spiritual calling," capable of embodying specific characters with completely different personalities and demeanors. At the beginning of each ritual, the head priest usually performs an offering to Buddha and the Saints, after which the medium asks permission to "carry the spirit." The medium sits in the middle of four attendants, is covered with a red cloth, called a face covering, and begins the ritual. It usually begins with the spirit of the Three Holy Mothers. Following that, those with a spiritual calling to Saint Tran will perform the ritual for Saint Tran.

In the spirit medium ritual, there are 36 spirit possessions, each dedicated to a different deity. However, a single ritual doesn't always include all 36 possessions; it's usually between 8 and 15, depending on the medium's wishes. Each possession is characterized by different costumes, props, dances, and facial expressions. For example, the "Quan Lon" (Lord) possession requires a majestic and imposing demeanor, wielding a sword and bow to express bravery and authority; the "Cao Mai" (female) possessions feature brightly colored costumes, gracefully holding fans and flags; and the "Cao Nam" (male) possessions are playful and cheerful. Each possession is performed systematically through the following steps: inviting the deity to descend, delivering pronouncements, bestowing blessings, and bidding farewell.

Along with that is the harmonious performance of the ritual musicians. The ritual musicians in the spirit medium ceremony consist of 3-5 musicians, using the moon lute, small drums, gongs, clappers, etc., showcasing very distinctive folk performance art. The musicians must be proficient in ancient texts, possessing keen improvisational skills to sing in harmony with the spirit medium's performance, enhancing the medium's experience. The influence of the Ca Tru musical style is quite noticeable in the songs sung by the musicians, such as the "bi," "phu binh," and "phu ty ba" styles. The songs recount the origins, achievements, and virtues of the Saints, most of whom are historical figures from the nation's founding and defense, such as Tran Hung Dao - Saint Tran, Mother Au Co - Mother of the Mountains, Le Khoi or Nguyen Xi - Ong Hoang Muoi, Scholar Phung Khac Khoan - Ong Hoang Bo, Lady Le Chan - Saint Mother Bat Nan, Sat Hai Dai Vuong Hoang Ta Thon… For example, when the medium H. is entering the spirit medium's state, the musicians sing:

The Holy Father issued a decree.

The naval and land officials also had their private residences.

Shouting loudly, shaking the Southern Citadel.

Conquering the East, suppressing rebellions in the North, wreaking havoc everywhere…

After the pronouncement, the blessing ceremony begins. Disciples and devotees surrounding the medium, whoever has a wish or request, send their wishes to the deity. The deity will bestow "blessings," which could be a sprig of green tea if it's the Mother Goddess of the Mountains, or cakes, fruits, incense, flowers, water, etc., depending on which "spirit" the medium is "inhabiting." Those who receive blessings, regardless of the amount, find joy and hope for a prosperous new year.

The spirit medium ritual is performed systematically, with high aesthetic value and rich folk cultural and artistic elements, reflecting the Vietnamese people's belief in the Mother Goddess with the legend of "The Dragon and the Immortal" and Mother Au Co; at the same time, it expresses the aspirations of the rice-farming civilization, providing spiritual support and a path towards a better life. On the other hand, a distinctive feature of the spirit medium ritual is its multicultural and multi-ethnic perspective, as evidenced by the fact that many of the deities in the Mother Goddess religion are from ethnic minority groups. Thus, the spirit medium ritual in the Mother Goddess religion is closely linked to the roots and history of the nation, becoming a symbol of patriotism – a patriotism that has been spiritualized and religiously embodied.

However, alongside the positive and proper aspects of spirit medium rituals, due to a lack of understanding, naivety, and gullibility, many people have been misled by unscrupulous individuals, leading to superstition and the practice of "buying and selling gods," negatively impacting social life. In some rituals, the offering of blessings, instead of symbolic incense and flowers, has been distorted to include money and gold, which is wasteful and pointless, distorting the original positive meaning and causing many to have a negative view of spirit mediumship. Furthermore, the increasingly extravagant costumes, props, and accompanying ritual music, along with the amount of money invested in the ritual, do not demonstrate sincerity and only fuel the phenomenon of competing to hold grand and elaborate ceremonies, with people following the lead of others. In Nghe An, spirit medium rituals are regularly performed at temples such as Ong Hoang Muoi Temple and Hong Son Temple, or, out of habit, some people still participate in spirit medium rituals at Cui Temple (Ha Tinh). Properly recognizing the value and preserving and managing these spiritual and cultural activities is essential, especially at the beginning of spring and the new year…

Text and photos:Phuoc Anh