CHINA: BUDDHIST MONKS IN BEIJING CELEBRATE THE END OF TIBETAN YEAR WITH EXORCISIM RITUAL

Record ID: 779945

  • Title: CHINA: BUDDHIST MONKS IN BEIJING CELEBRATE THE END OF TIBETAN YEAR WITH EXORCISIM RITUAL
  • Date: 2nd March 2003
  • Summary: MONKS PLAYING TRUMPETS AND MONK PERFORMING MONK PLAYING DRUM MONK HANDING OBJECT TO DANCING MONK MONK PRESENTING OBJECT
  • Embargoed: 17th March 2003 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: BEIJING, CHINA
  • Country: China
  • Topics: General,Religion
  • Reuters ID: LVAF0ZWR63A492PKSKLBZPIZHIKZ
  • Story Text: Buddhist monks in Beijing have been celebrating the end of the Tibetan year with a traditional exorcism ritual designed to banish evil spirits in the coming twelve months.
    To the sound of trumpets, drums and cymbals, Buddhist monks performed ritual dances in the wintry courtyard of Beijing's Lama Temple on Sunday (March 2) to celebrate the last day of the year in the Tibetan calendar.
    It was a rare chance for believers and tourists alike to witness the lamas perform an exorcism ritual which is believed to drive away the old year's evil spirits.
    As the "Cham" dances unfolded, monks in ritual costumes enacted legendary figures of Tibetan Buddhism, with every move and gesture containing religious meaning.
    Such performances were outlawed during China's Cultural Revolution 1966-1976, but have been revived in recent years, drawing in crowds eager to catch a glimpse of the spectacle.
    Celebrating New Year is an essential part of Tibetan culture -- an opportunity to cast away all negative aspects of the old year.
    "At the end of the Tibetan year, all Tibetans celebrate and welcome the new year.
    In the Potala Palace and in other large renowned Tibetan monasteries, there are also religious ceremonies like this.
    It's a festival which links folk custom and religion together. In one way, it commemorates the successful introduction of Tibetan Buddhism in Tibet. And secondly, it is performed to dispel all evil, so that the new year can be peaceful and stable," said Ye Liancheng (pron: yea lee-en tcheng), tourist guide at the lamasery.
    While Communist China has always been wary of religion, the modern, fast-paced life in the cities has little to offer for those in search of values, symbols or spirituality.
    That's why more and more Han Chinese feel attracted by the distinct rituals of Tibetan Buddhism.
    "Today is the last day of the year in the Tibetan calendar. Every year on this very date, I come to the temple to burn incense. I am a believer -- even though I am Han Chinese, I believe in Tibetan Buddhism," said 35-year-old Cao Zhigao (pron: tsao dje gao), as he bought packs of incense at a little stall.
    The Lama Temple, or Yonghegong (pron: yoong hur goong) in Chinese, belongs to the Yellow Hat Sect of Tibetan Lamaism.
    Built in 1694 as residence for the emperor's son, the grounds were converted into a lamasery for monks from Tibet and Mongolia in 1744.
    As a thick haze of incense hung over the temple, people prayed for good luck in the new year.
    "It's a coincidence that I came here today, I wasn't aware that today there would be a grand Tibetan festival. I only discovered later that this is Tibetan New Year. So having come here, I hope I can bring back lots of good luck for everyone," said Yang Rong (pron: young rong), a 20-year-old student.
    At the climax of the festivities, a procession of monks carried a ritual sculpture, thought to encompass all the world's evil, to a place outside the temple grounds.
    In an act of exorcism, the object was ritually slain and burnt -- and the coming year thus believed to be freed of all evil spirits.
    Security was tight during the event.
    Many Tibetans resent what they see as Chinese occupation of Tibet since the People's Liberation Army marched in and imposed Communist rule in 1950.
    And with the National People's Congress about to unfold in Beijing, a nervous government has stepped up security throughout the capital.
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