湖南省花垣縣排碧鄉黃巖村苗族的椎牛祭

Zhang Ziwei張子偉and Zhang Ziyuan張子元. 2000. Hunan sheng Huanyuan Xian Paibi xiang Huanyan cun Miao zu de zhuiniu ji湖南省花垣縣排碧鄉黃巖村苗族的椎牛祭 (the bludgeoning oxen sacrifice among the Hmong people of Huayan village in Hunan’s Paibi township, Huayuan county). Taipei: Shih Ho-cheng Folklore Culture Foundation. 540 pp.

Monograph Series of Studies in Chinese Ritual, Theatre and Folklore, no. 71

民俗曲藝叢書編號第71種

Abstract

苗族椎牛祭，係苗族七十二堂祭典中最神聖隆重、規模最大、持續時間最長的儀式。其目的在於祭祖求財求福、消災消難，亦有求子的。辦理人有姓氏限定，如施姓人家只能辦椎豬，不能辦椎牛。

而椎牛祭包含祭祀苗神苗鬼、客神客鬼共三十六堂，祭祀中保留遠古時期的尸位崇拜。作者將椎牛祭全堂法事科儀化為文字記錄，翔實地展現在讀者面前。書後並附上苗漢對照的《椎牛祭》全堂法事科儀輯錄，以及儀式過程照片。

The zhuiniu ji is the largest, lengthiest, and most sacred and solemn ritual of the 72 forms of sacrificial ritual performed by the Miao people of southwest China. This rite’s main goals involve prayers for wealth and blessings, the elimination of disasters and calamities, and the birth of sons. Only those with certain surnames may perform this rite. For example, members of the Shi施 surname group are only allowed to perform bludgeoning pig sacrifices, and may not sacrifice oxen.

The zhuiniu ji encompasses a total of 36 rites for making offerings to the Hmong’s gods and ghosts, as well as gods and ghosts from outside the community. These rites also preserve the ancient ritual of shiwei尸位 (sacrificing to a descendent who dresses as a substitute for the deceased). The author provides a vivid and detailed written record of all the various rituals performed. At the end of the book is appended the text of zhuiniu ji in both Hmong and Chinese, as well as numerous photographs of these rituals.