Lái — Shaman — Giáy Ethnic Group

Giay Shaman Northern Vietnam
The Story of a Shaman from Northern Vietnam

I am a fourth-gen­er­a­tion shaman. My father is a shaman as well. I start­ed to learn when I was 15.”

It is not easy becom­ing a shaman. It’s eas­i­er to learn Viet­namese than this (ancient) writ­ing. I learned from my dad and anoth­er shaman. I don’t like learn­ing from my dad much. It’s not as interesting”

A shaman has to have tools to work. Many tools! All old objects. These are passed down from my great grand­fa­ther. I also have a shaman shirt. I am just allowed to wear it dur­ing worship.”

These old pic­tures are arranged in 2 sets. One is for funer­al and the oth­er one is for good luck, hap­pi­ness, pros­per­i­ty, and longevi­ty. No one can make draw­ings like these any­more. I tried once but it does­n’t look the same.”

These are the three broth­ers. When we burn this paper, the 3 broth­ers will deliv­er it to the under­ground god. When a per­son pass­es away, I have to read this paper, read all the prop­er­ty e.g. cows, buf­fa­lo, ducks, pigs… very long. It takes me one day to write it. For a funer­al, I have to pre­pare 2 pieces of paper. The paper is to define the dead per­son­’s property.”

Lái, 44 years old
Shaman — Giáy Eth­nic Group
Ha Giang, Viet­nam (North­ern Vietnam)

Giay Shaman art Vietnam
Giay Shaman List of Possessions for afterlife

When a per­son pass­es away, I have to read this paper, read all the prop­er­ty e.g. cows, buf­fa­lo, ducks, pigs… very long. It takes me one day to write it. For a funer­al, I have to pre­pare 2 pieces of paper. The paper is to define the dead per­son­’s property.”

Three Brothers, Giay Shaman

These are the three broth­ers. When we burn this paper, the 3 broth­ers will deliv­er it to the under­ground god.”

Giay Shaman tools

A shaman has to have tools to work. Many tools! All old objects. These are passed down from my great grandfather.”

No one can make draw­ings like these any­more. I tried once but it does­n’t look the same.”

Giay Village Ha Giang Vietnam

Lái lives in a small tra­di­tion­al vil­lage on the side of a moun­tain, sur­round­ed by rice ter­races in Ha Giang, Vietnam.

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