Đạo Mẫu (Vietnamese:[ɗâːwˀmə̌wˀ],道母) is the worship ofmother goddesses which was established inVietnam in the 16th century.[1] This worship is a branch ofVietnamese folk religion but is moreshamanic in nature. Đạo is a Sino-Vietnamese word for "religion," similar to the Chinese term dao meaning "path," while Mẫu means "mother" and is loaned from Middle Chinese /məuX/.
While scholars like Ngô Đức Thịnh propose that it represents a systematic worship of mother goddesses, Đạo Mẫu draws together fairly disparate beliefs and practices.[2][3][4][5][6] These include the worship of goddesses such asThiên Y A Na,Bà Chúa Xứ "Lady of the Realm",Bà Chúa Kho "Lady of the Storehouse", and PrincessLiễu Hạnh,[7] legendary figures likeÂu Cơ, theTrưng Sisters (Hai Bà Trưng), andLady Triệu (Bà Triệu), as well as the branchFour Palaces.
The most prominent ritual of Đạo Mẫu is the ceremony ofhầu bóng (lit. 'serving the reflections'), in which a priest or priestess mimics the deities by dressing and acting like them. Many people mistake thathầu bóng is a form ofmediumship ritual — known in Vietnam aslên đồng — much as practiced in other parts of Asia, such asSouth China, among theMon people ofMyanmar, and some communities inIndia; however, that is not correct. Although some of the priests and priestesses of Đạo Mẫu are believed to have the ability of spirit mediumship, this is a different practice entirely. The priest is in full control of their body duringhầu bóng. A successful ceremony is one in which the priest feels the deities' essences but it does not mean the deities' spirits enter the priest's mortal body. As a religious leader authorised to perform the sacred rituals of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and one or more deities, thethanh đồng in Đạo Mẫu is more of the equivalent of a priest rather than a medium or a shaman.
The worshiping of the Mother Goddesses contributes to the appreciation of women in society. Recognized byUNESCO, this Vietnamese ritual was inscribed on the Representative List in December 2016.[8]
Although theVietnamese government had initially proscribed the practice of such rituals, deeming them to be superstitions, they relented in 1987, once again permitting their practice.
The most prominent form of Đạo Mẫu isFour Palaces (Tứ Phủ), which worships a hierarchical pantheon of Vietnamese indigenous deities with a strong influence from historical figures, Taoism and Buddhism. Four Palaces is the most common in the North. Other forms in different areas have also developed an interference with other local beliefs. The name means "Four Palaces", which includes the four realms Heaven, Mountains, Water and Earth.
According to the official scripture of the Four Palaces, the Mother Goddesses of the Four Palaces denomination include:
There are 12 positions in the rank of the Divine Courtiers. While the first four Divine Courtiers attend to the specific Mother Goddesses and represent their own Palace, the other Courtiers govern an area.
1. First Courtier, Imperial Commissioner of Heaven Palace.Vietnamese: Chầu Đệ Nhất Thượng Thiên Khâm Sai
2. Second Courtier, Imperial Commissioner of Mountain Palace.Vietnamese: Chầu Đệ Nhị Thượng Ngàn Khâm Sai
3. Third Courtier, Imperial Commissioner of Water Palace.Vietnamese: Chầu Đệ Tam Thuỷ Cung Khâm Sai
4. Fourth Courtier, Imperial Commissioner of Earth Palace.Vietnamese: Chầu Đệ Tứ Địa Cung Khâm Sai
5. Fifth Courtier of the Lân Stream.Vietnamese: Chầu Năm Suối Lân
6. Sixth Courtier of Femininity.Vietnamese: Chầu Sáu Lục Cung
7. Seventh Courtier of Kim Giao.Vietnamese: Chầu Bảy Kim Giao
8. Eighth Courtier of Bát Nàn.Vietnamese: Chầu Tám Bát Nàn
9. Ninth Courtier of Nine Wells.Vietnamese: Chầu Chín Cửu Tỉnh
10. Tenth Courtier of Đồng Mỏ.Vietnamese: Chầu Mười Đồng Mỏ
11. Little Courtier of Bắc Lệ.Vietnamese: Chầu Bé Bắc Lệ
12. Local Courtiers.Vietnamese: Chư vị Chầu Bản Cảnh
Similar to the 12 Divine Courtiers, there are 12 positions in the rank of the Divine Mistresses. While most Divine Mistresses attend to the specific Mother Goddesses or Divine Courtier, some other Mistresses protect an area.
1. First Mistress of Heaven.Vietnamese: Cô Cả Thượng Thiên
2. Second Mistress of Mountain.Vietnamese: Cô Đôi Thượng Ngàn
3. Third Mistress of Water.Vietnamese: Cô Bơ Thoải Cung
4. Fourth Mistress of Earth.Vietnamese: Cô Tư Địa Cung
5. Fifth Mistress of the Lân Stream.Vietnamese: Cô Năm Suối Lân
6. Sixth Mistress of Mountain.Vietnamese: Cô Sáu Sơn Trang
7. Seventh Mistress of Kim Giao.Vietnamese: Cô Bảy Kim Giao
8. Eighth Mistress of Tea Hills.Vietnamese: Cô Tám Đồi Chè
9. Ninth Mistress of Nine Wells.Vietnamese: Cô Chín Cửu Tỉnh
10. Tenth Mistress of Đồng Mỏ.Vietnamese: Cô Mười Đồng Mỏ
11. Little Mistresses of Mountain.Vietnamese: Chư vị Cô Bé Thượng Ngàn
12. Little Mistresses of Water.Vietnamese: Chư vị Cô Bé Thuỷ Cung
