RELIGION OF THE CHASHAN

The Chashan support still a very simple life, as it is reflected in his religion. Since they believe in the existence of numerous spirits, which are identified by the different natural phenomena.

His principal god is the God of the Sky, Monke, which is over all the other deities. They venerate Monke in all the important ceremonies and especially in the weddings and the funerals. When there are ceremonies in which the whole village takes part some goat or a cow sacrifices itself. If there are ceremonies in which only the family or the clan takes part him pigs or chickens sacrifice themselves.

In addition to Monke, the second god in importance he is Saiyou, the God of the Earth, since this one can provide good harvests to them and prevent natural disasters from happening. He is venerated principally in the Holiday of the New Grain.

The God of the Mountains, Pengyou, also it is important. Since it deals with providing the hunting, and protects the travelers when they go out of the village. That's why he is venerated in the holidays of the hunting and before going out of trip.

Also they have a God of the Fire, a God of the Waters, God of the Trees, etc.

They believe that in the world, in addition to the beneficent action of the gods, there exists the harmful action of the demons, whose presence is always unfortunate for the men. To avoid the demons they have a series of conjurations and curses, as they have prayers to venerate the gods.

In every village of the Chashan there exists a priest or Changsa, which is the specialist in the dealing with the spirits, be these gods or demons. He is who knows the prayers and conjurations that have to of being carried out in every ceremony, and it possesses also knowledge of medicine, of the tribal history and it is capable of foreseeing.

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