Path of Seeking Regret: The Discovery of a Mysterious Witch Map

Author: Song Zhaolin
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-08-01
Features: This book introduces an ancient and mysterious magical diagram called Namuyi, which resembles picture books. Namuyi shamans read the diagrams and recite scriptures, passing down the history and culture of their ethnic group. These magical diagrams narrate ancient myths and the primal beliefs of Shuwei. The Namuyi are a small ethnic group living in the high mountain areas of southwestern China. They are a branch of the ancient Western people and are now integrated into the Tibetan population of southwestern Sichuan. The picture magical scriptures originated in prehistoric times and have survived into the civilized era. The Chinese classic Shan Hai Jing is an ancient magical scripture that follows the format of illustrations before text, later evolving into a combination of text and illustrations. The Namuyi magical scriptures are like a "living fossil" of primitive picture magical scriptures. Among them, the "Guidance Scripture" is not only a classic used by Namuyi shamans to guide the souls of the deceased back to their ancestral homeland but also a map for the living to trace their roots. It is a rare case study for researching primal magic religion and the origins of writing. It is also a key to uncovering the history of the Namuyi and the historical corridor of Tibetan and Yi ethnic groups in southwestern China. It provides extremely valuable materials for the study of history, ethnology, religious studies, and archaeology.