Iu-Mien Yao’s Ritual Healing
A Case Study on Fertility Talismans as Depicting Birth Scenes in Religious Manuscripts (Early 19th- to Late 20th Centuries)
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 7201497 |
|---|---|
| Authors | C-L Wu (corresponding author) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Volume | 57 |
| Issue | 2 |
| Pages | 288-341 |
| Publication date | 2025-10-10 |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | East Asian Science Technology and Medicine (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1562-918X • E-ISSN: 2666-9323 |
| Publisher | Brill (PUBLISHER • NL) |
| DOI | 10.1163/26669323-20251069 |
| OpenAlex | W4415099980 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 8 |
Distinct from “Classical Medicine,” ritual healing was common in ancient China. The Iu-Mien 勉, a branch of the Yao ethnic group, produced many manuscripts written in Chinese on the subject of ritual healing, including talismans, incantations, and instructions. This article discusses the Iu-Mien fertility talismans. Spells, talismans, and talismanic charts in healing rituals must be incorporated into the ritual process and accompanied by the requisite visualizations ( cunxiang 存想). Visualizations in the Iu-Mien fertility talismans, however, are not merely mental imaginations produced by ritual specialists, but are instead further concretized as “scenes” to enhance healing efficacy. This is done by homeopathic magic; through imitative association, ritual specialists harness the corresponding power of the imitated object. Talismans not only supplement religious texts but also convey a holistic picture associated with the ritual’s purpose. Rather than a dichotomy, an interpenetrative hybridization obtains between Daoism and local religions. Iu-Mien ritual healing demonstrates the adoption of both healing practices from Song-Yuan religious movements and popular beliefs in southern China. Iu-Mien ritual specialists integrated external rites and talismanic charts into their practices through selection, hybridization, and re-creation to address the challenges and impacts of external religions. Occurring spontaneously among local people (Han and non-Han alike), this cultural hybridization is similar to the mutual influence between local communities and religious organizations in early Daoism
| Highly cited | No |
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