| Part ofa series on |
| Chinese folk religion |
|---|
 |
Internal traditions Major cultural forms Main philosophical traditions: Ritual traditions: Devotional traditions:
 Confucian churches and sects: |
Bimoism[1] (Chinese:毕摩教;pinyin:Bìmójiào,Yi:ꀘꂾbi mox) is theindigenous religion of theYi people, the largest ethnic group inYunnan after theHan Chinese. It takes its name from thebimo,shaman-priests who are also masters ofYi language and scriptures, wearing distinctive black robes and large hats.
Bimo, which means 'master of scriptures',[2] officiate at births, funerals, weddings and holidays.[3] One can become bimo by patrilinial descent after a time of apprenticeship or formally acknowledging an oldbimo as the teacher.[4] A lesser priest known assuni (ꌠꑊsu nyit) is elected, butbimo are more revered and can readYi scripts whilesuni cannot. Both can perform rituals, but onlybimo can perform rituals linked to death. For most cases,suni only perform some exorcism to cure diseases. Generally,suni can only be from humble civil birth whilebimo can be of both aristocratic and humble families.[5][6]
The Yi worshiped and deified their ancestors in much the same way as did followers ofChinese folk religion, and also worshiped gods of nature: fire, hills, trees, rocks, water, earth, sky, wind and forests.[3] Bimoists also worship dragons, believed to be protectors from bad spirits that cause illness, poor harvests and other misfortunes. Bimoists believe in multiple souls. At death, one soul remains to watch the grave while the other is eventually reincarnated into some living form. After someone dies they sacrifice a pig or sheep at the doorway to maintain relationship with the deceased spirit.[5]
Thebimo, once considered by the Chinese government to be promoting a "backwards religion", are now being promoted as ambassadors of Yi culture. They organise large-scale rituals for the yearlyTorch Festival.[1] Since the 1980s, with the loosening of religion restrictions inChina, Bimoism has undergone a revitalisation.[1] In 1996, the Bimo Culture Research Center was founded.[1] In the early 2010s, the government of China has helped the revival of the Bimoist faith through the construction of large temples and ceremonial complexes.[7][8][9]
The most famous hero in Yi mythology is Zhyge Alu. He was the son of a dragon and an eagle who possessed supernatural strength, anti-magic, and anti-ghost powers. He rode a nine-winged flying horse called "long heavenly wings." He also had the help of a magical peacock and python. The magical peacock was called Shuotnyie Voplie and could deafen the ears of those who heard its cry, but if invited into one's house, would consume evil and expel leprosy. The python, called Bbahxa Ayuosse, was defeated by Zhyge Alu, who wrestled with it in the ocean after transforming into a dragon. It was said to be able to detect leprosy, cure tuberculosis, and eradicate epidemics. Like the Chinese mythological archer,Hou Yi, Zhyge Alu shoots down the suns to save the people.[10] In the Yi religion Bimoism, Zhyge Alu aids the bimo priests in curing leprosy and fighting ghosts.[11]
Jiegujienuo was a ghost that caused dizziness, slowness in action, dementia and anxiety. The ghost was blamed for ailments and exorcism rituals were conducted to combat the ghost. The bimo erected small sticks considered to be sacred, the kiemobbur, at the ritual site in preparation.[11]
TheTorch Festival is one of the Yi people's main holidays. According to Yi legend, there were once two men of great strength, Sireabi and Atilaba. Sireabi lived in heaven while Atilaba on earth. When Sireabi heard of Atilaba's strength, he challenged Atilaba to a wrestling match. After suffering two defeats, Sireabi was killed in a bout, which greatly angered thebodhisattavas, who sent a plague of locusts to punish the earth. On the 24th day of the 6th month of thelunar calendar, Atilaba cut down many pine trees and used them as torches to kill the locusts, protecting the crops from destruction. The Torch Festival is thus held in his honor.[12]
| Major religions in China |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Other religions | ||
| By region | ||
| Related | ||
