WAYS OF EXORCISM
"An unexpected encounter... Half real half dreamy..."
Are you ready for this?
Due to the existence of belief in ghosts in Vietnamese credence long time ago, stories about encounters between human and spirits are omnipresent. Although they were either curious or afraid, they still equipped themselves with knowledge of how to prevent miasma of evil spirits they meet. Common knowledge of "how to behave" towards souls, or ways to exorcise evil spirits, have been passed on from generation to generation among the broad masses of the people.
Exorcism, which is also known as Tich Ta, is dissolve, threaten and scare away all the bad things that are harmful to humans. People often bring things that have effects on exorcism by their side when going out or put those with their kids to avoid the ghosts. Sometimes a few cloves of garlic, dog blood or green beans,... still work because according to folktales, these simple materials can scare ghosts away. In addition, mothers use mulberry twigs to made delicated bracelets for kids, or made charms of iridescent thread and seeds, hornbills and dried fruits inside, in order to avoid evil spirits or just poisonous species. In the seventh lunar month which is considered as "The ghost month", people tend to pull strings for these simple things with the belief in living under protection as well as providing peace in minds.
Art from Niệm sinh Quỷ (The Devil's Nostalgia) by Huong Giang
Vietnamese pass on the next generation not only ways to avoid spirits but also the instruction in case of meeting them. While wandering at night, people do not call each other names, do not whistle since they believe that spirits are attracted by sound. What if the spirits did appeared? The folktales say that there are three fire points on our body can repel devil, so when hearing strange calls, or suddenly being patted,... it is recommended that you should not do anything, just keep calm to leave in peace. In addition, in order to keep peace in mind, people who worship different gods would pray for protection by saying different words. Despite the differences, all of these words refresh their mind, prevent negative thinking and keep their hearts full of goodness.
The stories of the ancient rite of exorcism are thrilling, too. If a person is possesed by a spirit, after being invited by his or her family, an exorcist will hold a "hầu đồng" (receiving incarnations of the deities) rite in which he uses a wooden sword, a whip and a wooden drum to torture the spirit. Exorcism rite has three stages. First, the exorcist presses the spirit for telling truth about its whereabouts, the reason why it harmed the victim. Next, he forces it to return soul to the victim and repel sickness. Last, he makes the spirit promise to not come back to harm people again. The exorcism of a village is costly and time-wasting. Sometimes it takes three or seven days, including many votive offerings. It comprises five rituals: making ceremonial offerings on the distaff side and the spear side, tràng phiên (flags used to decorate Buddhist ashrams), thí thực (giving food as alms) and set free. About this rite, Phan Ke Binh expressed his opinion: "We haven't known whether this could repel mystical spirits or not but it clearly such a waste of money! [...] The best way to beat an epidemic is keeping houses clean, eating carefully. Hoping this country can break all the superstitious practises for good days ahead."
Despite the fear of devils, Vietnamese are hauntingly worried about wandering souls, show mercy for infinitely orphan spirits who have white rice soups in The seventh lunar month nights only. There is not only fear but also compassion in that night. Don’t you see such a beautiful and warm light among the misty smoke of "The ghost month”?
Written by Lan Huong ----------------------------------------------------
References: 1. Phong tục Việt Nam - Trừ tà, Triều Sơn, NXB thời đại 2. Phạm Quân - Hoài Xuân, Nghi lễ trừ tà ở Việt Nam xưa <http://mantico.hatvan.vn/…/nghi-le-tru-ta-o-viet-nam-xua-ph…> 3. Việt Nam phong tục, tr 108-111, Phan Kế Bính 4. Thương nhớ mười hai - Tháng bảy ngày rằm xá tội vong nhân, Vũ Bằng 5. Văn tế thập loại chúng sinh, Nguyễn Du
