Funerals of the Tao Magicians among the Tay Ethnic Group (A Case Study in Phuong Vien Commune, Cho Don District, Bac Kan Province)

Abstract

This article shows that the funeral of the Tay in Bac Kan province is a very important ritual ceremony to their lifecycle and the Tao magicians play a crucial role in organizing rituals. The funeral serves not only a religious ceremony, also provides serves as an expression of filial piety, family duty, and moral principles. The belief in regeneration of souls after death makes the funeral a symbolic ritual for a start of a new life of the dead in the afterlife. There are more rituals performed in funerals for magicians than in funerals for the non-magicians. This is so that the dead magicians can continue their magic practices in the next world.