Healing Through States of Consciousness: Animal Sacrifice and Christian Prayer Among the Kachin in Southwest China

Medical Anthropology
Wenyi Zhang

Abstract

Healing rituals can be understood in terms of configurations of two states of consciousness-a culturally elaborated everyday waking consciousness, and an enhanced and culturally elaborated state of consciousness. Two healing rituals performed by the ethnic Kachin in Southwest China differentiate these two states of consciousness in their theories of life and death. The first ritual, animal sacrifice, employs the ordinary consciousness, including will and expectation, of participants through the enhanced state of consciousness of the ritual officiant. The second, Christian prayer, utilizes the enhanced consciousness of Christian Congregation to achieve psychic transformation. These two rituals maneuver different configurations of the two states of consciousness in achieving healing efficacy.

References

Feb 1, 1982·Journal of Child Language·L Harner
May 17, 2000·Medical Anthropology Quarterly·D E Moerman

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Citations

Mar 9, 2021·The International Journal on Drug Policy·Mandy SadanSeng Lawn Dan

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