Different aspects of Hau Bong spirit possession as seen from the perspectives of Anthropology and the Press

Abstract

Len dong is the most distinguished ritual in the worship of Mother Goddesses. Periods of economic prosperity have turned len dong ritual practice into an attractive religious showground that has often caused debates on related socio-economic issues. This is particularly true for the French colonial period of the 1930s up to the late 1940s, as well as for the present post-doi moi period. In both periods, scholars and intellectuals have pondered on the flourishing of len dong from various points of view. In this article, we would like to compare and analyse the attitudes of intellectuals towards len dong rituals during the French colonial period with the attitudes and viewpoints of contemporary scholars and journalists. Furthermore, we shall evaluate the colonial and contemporary intellectual discourse in the light of our own research findings among practicing mediums in modern Hanoi. By way of conclusion, we argue that despite its often criticised negative aspects, len dong spirit mediumship seems to provide the majority of practitioners with a symbolic framework that enables them to successfully manage their personal lives.