Dongba

Dongba designates both the religion and the priests of the Nakhi people of southwest China and is believed to have been largely inluenced by the indigenous Tibetan Bon religion. This influence is evident in the rituals and costumes of the Dongba priests, who invoke Bon spirits and decorate their headgear with pictures of Bon gods. The priests conduct a variety of rituals to propitiate the multitude of gods and spirits which are believed to influence events in the natural world. Dongba Culture is preserved and transmitted by writings and scriptures (recorded in pictographs that cannot be interpreted by non-priests), paintings, dance, and music. The native religion of the Nakhi was based on sorcery, but during the Tang (618-907) and Song (960-1279) dynasties the influences of other religions (including Tibetan Bon, Buddhism, and Taoism) blended to form Dongba. Priests occupy a high social position in Nakhi society. They are beleived to be mediums between humans, gods, and ghosts and capable of preventing or mitigating disasters. Dangba ritual ensures that the Nakhi people continue to enjoy good fortune.