Welcome to the tools page. The first line of words contain the Hmong version and the English version of the object. The first few words to the left of the two dashes are in Hmong description. The words right of the two dashes are in English description. The sentences after the first line are just simple words on what the object in the picture is used for.

thaj neeb -- shaman's altar
The shaman cannot perform a ritual without an altar; therefore an altar must be set up and it should be on the wall everyday.

kuam -- divination horns
The divination horns answer any questions that the shaman longs to know.

-- shaman's veil
Everytime a shaman is performing a shamanic ritual, he/she have to cover his/her face with this black veil to defend its self from the evil spirits.

tswb neeb -- finger ring bells
This tool is used to help heal a person.

txiab neeb -- a rattle used in shamanic rituals
This tool is used in shamanic rituals and its purpose is to hold everything together; as in a document.

ntaj neeb -- shaman's sword
The sword is used to block evilness, to destroy the evil devils, and to protect people from disasters.

nruas neeb -- shaman's gong
The gong/the sound of the gong is a warning to the spirits (assistants) that the shaman is performing a ritual and they must come out to help instruct.

xyoob thiab sob -- strings and bamboos
The bamboos and the strings must be set up in order for the shaman to go to the spirit world. The bamboos and the strings represent a bridge. When a shaman is in a shamanic ritual , the bridge will lead the shaman to the other world. The strings and bamboos are located on the ceiling. They start from the shaman's altar and ends at the door. The strings represent a bridge and the bamboos represent the support for the bridge.

 

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