Tuesday, February 08, 2005

Naxi dongba [shamen] in Nguluko, 1926


priests, originally uploaded by mutikonka.

This Naxi priest performed a ritual dance wearing a diadem: each of the crown's five panels depicts a Naxi deity. The warlike dance consists of half revolutions. Time is kept by throwing the sword into the air and letting it rhythmically strike the cymbal.


Devil dancers3
Military officers of the 'God of Heaven' defend their master. The celestial deity is seated on the table between the dancers. As a climax to their performance they kill his enemy, the Demon King."
Devil dancers1
Nguluko: "Nashi sorcerers perform a mystic ceremony: tribal wizards have more than 50 methods which they employ to propitiate or drive out demons that they believe cause illness or bad luck."

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