Muong Ethnic Religion

Muong ethnic religion is practiced by the Muong, natives of north Vietnam. Considered the only surviving descendants of the early Vietnamese, the Muong, unlike the lowland northern Vietnamese, have been little influenced by the Chinese. They staged unsuccessful rebellions against the French-ruled Vietnamese in 1822, 1833, and in the 1880s. The Muong social structure is patrilineal and has as its foundation the extended family. Only males can own property. Originally, the Muong had an organized feudal system consisting of a landed nobility and a peasant class. Private ownership of land has gradually replaced ownership by the nobility. The Muong are farmers; wet rice is grown on terraced land. Dry rice is also cultivated. They raise pigs, oxen, buffalo, and chickens. Hunting provides meat for festivals. The Muong gather wood and cinnamon for trade. They live in clusters of 10–25 houses that are raised about six feet off the ground on wooden stilts, portions of which are used to hold animals and store crops. Prominently featured in every home is an altar built to honor of their ancestors. Each home has a verandah at its entrance where a bucket of water is kept for washing their feet before entering the home. Currently, the Mong mostly practice Buddhism and Catholic Christianity which often becomes blended with local animistic influences. They believe in the existence of harmful spirits (ma tai, ma em, and others). They worship ancestral spirits and other supernatural deities such as the Saint of Tan Vien Mountain, also known as the Mountain God of Tan Vien. This deity is the oldest of the Four Immortals and embodies valor and indomitability in the fight against natural disaster. The other three Immortals are (1) the giant boy Thánh Gióng who rode an iron horse and vanquished enemies of the state, (2) marsh boy Chu Dong Tu, a poor youth who married a wealthy princess and obtained supernatural power after renouncing the world to devote his life to Taoism, and (3) princess Liễu Hạnh, a mortal transformed into a goddess after her death who wandered the world as either an old woman or a beautiful lady playing the flute. Liễu Hạnh punished those who teased her and blessed those who gave her offerings. Her personal cult was created by women. As animists, the Muong believe that non-living objects possess spirits. Shamans, who must possess knowledge of ancient documents, play an important role in the spiritual life of the Muong. Shaman can communicate with and persuade supernatural forces to protect people from harm. They also instruct people how to behave appropriately with the gods and teach them traditional Muong morals and ethics. The Muong believe that everyone’s soul is connected with a symbolic Si tree planted in the sky. When trees of Si are lush and green, the people who are connected with them are strong and healthy, but when the trees lose their leaves and dry out, people become ill and die With the introduction of modern medicine, beleif in folk remedies and rituals to cure illness has declined.