The Function of Ông Bổn Talismans in the Chinese Community of Cầu Kè District, Tra Vinh Province, Vietnam

Abstract

The worship of Ông Bổn is one of the distinctive folk beliefs of the Hoa people community in Cầu Kè District, Trà Vinh Province. Each year, during the Vu Lan Festival, the Ông Bổn Festival attracts thousands of participants from various regions. What makes the festival particularly appealing are the spirit possession rituals and the writing of talismans. In this study, the phenomena of Ông Bổn possession and talisman writing are examined as religious rituals that serve specific functions within the local Hoa people community. Drawing on Malinowski’s functionalist perspective and Radcliffe-Brown’s structural functionalism, along with data collected through in-depth interviews and participant observation, the authors focus on analyzing the function of Ông Bổn talismans in the Hoa people community of Cầu Kè District, Trà Vinh Province. The study further highlights the cultural value of these talismans in preserving and sustaining community stability while also contributing to local economic development.