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The Dai people in the early days believed in primitive religion. Later, with the spread of Buddhism, they generally believed in Hinayana. According to investigations, although primitive religion was gradually replaced by Buddhism, traces of primitive religion still can be found.
1. Hinayana
1. Hinayana
Hinayana 小乘 is a term used in traditional Mahayana Buddhist texts to refer to non-Mahayana Buddhist texts and practitioners. It is a different school of Buddhist teaching.
Main Dai population believe in Hinayana.
Since Hinayana advocates that men should have a religious life away from home during their lifetime, Dai boys are required to enter Buddhist temples to become monks at age of eight or nine. Even till today, many Dai boys would stay in temple to study as a monk before they go the middle school.
Monks are divided into several levels, including "“护用”、“帕”、“督”、祜巴“. Most of Dai men belong to the two levels of "护用" and "帕".
The Dai boys would start their study in temple as 护用 and learn the basics of scriptures and Buddhism. Soon after, they would pass the ordination ceremony of the temple to obtain the monk qualification of "帕" level. From the this level, they would begin shaving their hair. Now, most of Dai young boys only require to reach this level, but some of Dai boys would choose to continue their study as monks.
For those who choose to continue, After 20 years old, they can be promoted to be the supervisor, which is the level of 督. Those over 30 years old can be promoted to "祜巴", and later can be promoted to a higher level.
The young Monks in the temple
2.Primitive religion
2.Primitive religion
- Dai people worship their village gods. They call them as 丢拉曼. It is a protection god for the village. Dai people would sacrifice animals twice a year for the gods to pray for a good harvest before planting.
When New members come to the village, they must worship the village gods with chicken, wine and bacon sticks.
- the Dai people in some places worship the dragon tree and the dragon god. Dai people often sacrifice red bulls to the dragon tree in March to pray the gods' protection on the livestock.
- Dai people believe in ghosts. They believe there are fish pond ghosts, blacksmith ghost, doctor ghost, temple ghost, water ghost, etc. For all kinds of ghosts, Dai people have different sacrificing ceremonies for each of them.
Here is where Dai people worship their village gods.
Dai people worshiping the Dragon trees.
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