Shamanism and How to Make the Universe Right

Yao Musical Instruments

Upcoming at the Bates College Museum of Art, Shamanism and How to Make the Universe Right presents an extraordinary selection of shaman scrolls and ceremonial objects of the Yao. The Yao are an ethnic minority people originally from the mountainous regions of southwest China. Due to extenuating political reasons, many of the tribal groups migrated to Vietnam during the Qing dynasty (1644-1911) and settled in Northern Vietnam. The Yao brought with them a rich tradition of shamanic practice that is an amalgam of primarily Daoist deities and rituals, but also Buddhist deities, aspects of Confucian ancestral worship, animism and other natural forces. Traditional Yao spiritual life and ceremonial practice is embodied in this exhibition of their extraordinary art and material culture. View the exhibition.