“Stiffen the sinews, summon up the blood.”
October 8, 2016 10:44 PM Subscribe
The Nine Emperor Gods Festival, a nine-day Taoist celebration beginning on the eve of the 9th lunar month of the Chinese calendar, is observed primarily in Southeast Asian countries. Thailand’s celebration is called the Phuket Vegetarian Festival, and is notable for devotees called Ma Song—“entranced horses”—whom the gods enter during the festival.
[Ma Song] manifest supernatural powers and perform self-tortures [graphic photos of multiple piercings and bloody wounds] in order to shift evil from individuals onto themselves, and to bring the community good luck. Ma Song fall into two categories: those who, having had an intimation of impending doom, want to extend their lives; and people specially chosen by the gods for their moral qualities.
[Ma Song] manifest supernatural powers and perform self-tortures [graphic photos of multiple piercings and bloody wounds] in order to shift evil from individuals onto themselves, and to bring the community good luck. Ma Song fall into two categories: those who, having had an intimation of impending doom, want to extend their lives; and people specially chosen by the gods for their moral qualities.
Ive actually been to this festival. I stumbled across it by chance one afternoon when in Phuket for a couple of days. Pretty terrifying position to accidentally get caught up in as a young kid who spoke no Thai!
posted by stevedawg at 7:42 AM on October 9, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by stevedawg at 7:42 AM on October 9, 2016 [1 favorite]
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posted by leotrotsky at 6:02 AM on October 9, 2016 [2 favorites]