Sui People - Religion

Religion

The Sui are mainly polytheists and practice ancestor worship as well. Shamans were traditionally hired to carry out prayers and sacrifices in the houses of those that were sick or close to death. The Sui religion has more than 900 ghosts and gods that can cause both good fortune or misfortune (Wei 2003:xxii). Some deities and legendary figures are also borrowed from Chinese folk religion.

The Sui people have a wide array of taboos and superstitions, such as (Wei 2003:xxiv-xxv):

• During the first thunderclap of the start of the spring season, the ground cannot be plowed for three days. Breaking this taboo would anger the thunder god, resulting in abnormal rain patterns.
• Oaths should not be said when seeds are being sown lest there is crop damage.
• The lusheng should not be played after the seeds are sowed during the beginning of spring, or else the seeds might be blown away later.
• On the first morning of the Duan festival as well as the preceding evening, meats of land animals cannot be eaten. Violating this taboo is seen as disrespect towards ancestors and will result in fewer descendants.
• Dogs should not be killed during festival days.
• On the first day of the Spring Festival, houses should not be cleaned, food should not be cooked, and hair may not be cut. Instead, New Year's Eve leftovers are eaten.
• During a wedding procession, bad luck may result for a couple if the procession chances upon a coffin (couple may die soon), bird crossing the road (couple may be ill soon), thunder (a sorcerer must be invited to drive out ghosts), or a pregnant woman (the bride will be infertile).
• Remarried widows cannot return to their former husbands' villages, and cannot visit their parents' homes for an entire year, or else her parents' village will not prosper.
• Pregnant women cannot bear children in their parents' villages, or else her parents' family and livestock will be harmed.
• After just having a child, if a woman visits another person's village or house, that person will fall ill.
• Members of a clan cannot eat meats of land animals after one of their elders has died. The deceased elder's clothing and personal items cannot fall to the ground, and he must have an odd number of belongings.
• People born on the same day as a recently deceased person should not visit him, or else the dead may take their souls into the grave.
• Names should not be called out when people are being buried, or the dead may take their soul.
• After the death of a male, sows or cows cannot be killed. After the death of a female, horses or bulls cannot be killed.
• Pregnant women and babies should not be buried in areas which receive much sunshine.
• Solar and lunar eclipses, as well as calls of birds, are not liked by the Sui people.