CURRENT MOON

Monday, September 21, 2009

A Witch School In Taiwan


Here's an interesting story about the Paiwa People in Taiwan opening a school to ensure that their witchcraft traditions are passed on to the younger generation. Lack of a written language is making the process difficult. The school's founder explains that: We are witnessing the disappearance of the ancient ritual. We are trying hard to preserve it. Passing on psychic acts to the young generation is a good way to understand Paiwan culture. We can go back to see how ancestors lived.

The article explains that: Paiwan witches are seen as mediums between gods and humans, and the school teaches pupils rituals for blessing people and protecting them from evil.
Witches can use their powers to worship gods and ancestors, pray for weather and for their harvests and perform healing treatments and rituals for hunting and tattooing.


There's an interesting hereditary vs. learned component to the story.

Here's hoping the school is a success.

Photo found here.

1 comment:

Apuleius Platonicus said...

The data at adherents.com puts the percentage of people practicing "traditional Chinese" religions at 6% of the human population - the same as Buddhism!!