Mysterious Beliefs Between Silver Cliffs and Jade Waters (Bai People's Belief in Benzhu)

Author: Dong Jianzhong
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-09-01
Features: The Chinese Primitive Religion Culture Picture Book Series strives to showcase the highlights of China's multi-ethnic primitive religion culture. The first batch of publications include The Flame of the Soul – A Journey into the Dong Religion Culture, The Light of Faith – Li Ethnicity's Primitive Religion and Bimo Culture, Entering the Realm of Picture and Character – A Spiritual Journey Through the Dongba Religion of the Ancient Kingdom of Naxi, The Mysterious Belief Between Silver Mountains and Jade Lakes – Bai Ethnicity's Banzhu Worship, and The Charm of the Gobi – The Mysterious Northern Shamanistic Culture. These are five waves in the long river of China's primitive religion culture that we have selected. Each book has its own unique charm. The authors of this series are experts and scholars who have dedicated years to researching and introducing China's primitive religion. They have spent many years conducting field research in China's border minority regions, and the content of the books is mostly based on their first-hand materials. Each book is written by authors of the respective ethnic group about their own ethnic religion culture, making the reading experience warm and touching. This series combines knowledge and appreciation, with rich illustrations that complement each other, allowing readers to gain a wealth of information about primitive religion in a pleasant reading experience.
The poetic and picturesque natural beauty of Cangshan Mountain, Erhai Lake, and the Butterfly Spring has given the Bai people infinite creativity, giving rise to a rich and diverse ethnic culture. Among these, the most unique is undoubtedly the Bai people's Banzhu worship. Banzhu are the guardian deities of the village and ethnic group, overseeing the life, death, fortune, and misfortune of the people in the region and village. The belief in Banzhu is almost universal among the Bai people, and it seems that every Bai person's life is inseparable from Banzhu. The Banzhu worship activities, which serve as both spiritual solace and a form of physical entertainment for the Bai people, as well as the rich and vivid Banzhu myths and legends, and the exquisite architectural and sculptural art of Banzhu temples, all constitute the most splendid chapter of Bai culture.