What are the main ways of Tibetan sacrifice?

Tibetan Braised Mulberry Sacrifice: Misty Incense Sacrifice

Lhasa is the center of Tibetan Buddhism. Jokhang Temple, Jokhang Temple, drepung monastery, Sera Temple, Gandan Temple and other temples are surrounded by stars like the moon, and there are many believers, so the sacrificial incense is naturally very strong. Burning incense is one of the many kinds of sacrifices, which Tibetans call "simmering mulberry", that is, smoke sacrifice.

Sacrificial ceremonies of primitive Tibetan religions include braised mulberry, blood sacrifice, jumping to the gods and so on. When religious ceremonies are held, these three contents are often held together. Later, Bernicism also incorporated it into its own sacrificial ceremony, and it has not changed. After Buddhism was introduced into Tibetan areas, all of them were inherited except the content of "blood sacrifice".

"Sang" is a transliteration in Tibetan, meaning "smoke" or "fireworks". As for "braised mulberry", a more accurate translation should be "fireworks festival" or "smoke festival". Why do people have this common name? It is because the religious ceremony of mulberry stew has gradually evolved into a folk activity in modern times. From the content point of view, there is not much difference between folk "braising mulberry" and religious ceremony, but religious braising mulberry is only a part of sacrificial ceremony, while folk braising mulberry is held separately. Mulberry stew is made of Platycladus orientalis, Rhododendron microphylla, Artemisia argyi, pine, Ciba and other materials.

The mulberry stew activities of Tibetan ancestors were all held on the hills or river banks outside the tribe. When the mulberry is stewed, the branches and leaves of Platycladus orientalis, Artemisia argyi and Rhododendron microphylla are piled up, with whole grains in the middle, and then the ceremony host sprinkles some water and lights it to offer sacrifices to the gods. Tibetan primitive ancestors often regarded simmering mulberry as a top priority in tribal society. They used simmered mulberry to gather the masses, strengthen tribal alliances and expand their momentum. In the course of fighting or marching, we often simmer mulberries and pray for the protection of the gods to win, which is described in the Tibetan epic Biography of King Gesar.

Academics believe that braised mulberry originated from the primitive times of Tibetans. At that time, whenever the men in the tribe came back from fighting and hunting, the chiefs, old people, women and children in the tribe would light a bunch of fragrant branches and leaves such as mugwort and rhododendron microphylla in the open space outside the tribe, so that the warriors could step over them and sprinkle water on them constantly. At first, I may want to fumigate herbs and wash them with water to remove the blood gas from combatants and their filth. Later it evolved into a religious ceremony. People no longer cross the "mulberry" pile, and water is no longer spilled on their bodies, but on the "mulberry" pile. The purpose of simmering mulberry has also become a prayer to the gods. Later, with the exaggeration of Bonism and Buddhism, braised mulberries became a unique ritual of offering sacrifices to the gods in Tibetan areas, which was more solemn when combined with other sacrificial ceremonies belonging to Bonism and Tibetan Buddhism.

When simmering mulberries, you usually recite a classic book called Xiao Mulberry, or ask the Lama to read it, or read it yourself. It is generally believed that Xiao Sang, a scripture created by Master Lian Peanut, can make people recite it at any time, whether at home or out, and get what they want. As an activity of offering sacrifices and praying for blessings, in the past, almost everyone participated, especially in the sacrifice, from the official to the folk. In daily life, simmering mulberry sacrifices also occupy an important position.

175 1 year, the local government of Tibet (commonly known as "Gaxia") was established. Every year, the Gaxia government holds a large-scale mulberry stew ceremony in Xia Dong. On the roof of Jokhang Temple, the ceremony was presided over by Galen, a former principal official of Tibetan local government. All junior officials in Xiamen University should wear official uniforms to participate in this activity. On the day of simmering mulberry, smoke filled the top of Jokhang Temple. Dozens of monks from Miru Temple performed various rituals of offering sacrifices to the gods with their names, and from time to time there were living quarters in ancient warrior armor to serve Wei Ying in firing muskets. Four women disguised as men held gold cups to offer sacrifices to the gods, and Zhang (treasurer of Jokhang Temple) took out fried fruits and dried and fresh fruits. This is the so-called "Summer White Sacrifice" and "Winter White Sacrifice"

On the folk activities of simmering mulberry sacrifices.

Sacrifice mountains and water. Sacrificing to the mountain means bringing colorful prayer flags, fragrant branches and highland barley wine to stew mulberries on the altar on the highest mountain near the local area to entertain the mountain gods. Sacrificing water is to hang colorful prayer flags on the branches of a local river bank, and at the same time simmer mulberries on the river bank to sacrifice to the water god.

Sacrifice to the roof god. Generally, cribs are built on the four corners of the roof of the house, and branches are inserted into each crib, and each branch is decorated with colorful prayer flags. Different colors mean different meanings. The order from top to bottom is blue, white, red, green and yellow. According to folklore, blue is the sky, white is the cloud, red is the fire, green is the water, and yellow is the earth, which are sewn with wool in turn. If you know the five elements, blue is water, green is wood, red is fire, yellow is earth and white is iron. Therefore, there is often a custom of arranging the color sequence of prayer flags at the beginning of the owner's color. On the wall pile in the middle of the gable on the roof, there is a ceramic incense burner, which is the place where the owner simmers mulberry. Whenever the Tibetan calendar is on the eighth, fifteenth and thirtieth day of each month, or on festive occasions such as holidays, weddings and trips, he will stew mulberries in this furnace to worship the roof god.