1295 SOLD Antique Yao Shaman Ritual Manuscript with Illustrations

Sold to a discerning Antique Art-Lover

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Yao Shaman's Manuscript from southern Yunnan, western Guangxi and northern Vietnam

Very intriguing text on a subject that is no longer practiced and the knowledge thereof is available only through second-hand research rather than as a living tradition.

Such manuscripts outline traditional ritual processes to be followed for all events from cradle to grave.They are religious texts, partly of localized Daoist and partly of indigenous beliefs, in nature and scripted by the learned Shaman priests who were called upon to conduct these. ceremonies.

These are written in Chinese language, but in a mixture of scripts of both Chinese and those invented by Yao people.

This particular manuscript has detailed drawings of chicken feet, leaves and charts and it is conjectured that this may have to do with sacrificial offerings.

The notes are written in black ink with accents in red ink.

The original paper that have been pasted onto fresh paper to arrest the deterioration.

Hand stitched binding.

Written by brushes, in ink on cotton or mulberry or rice paper.

Covers made of black material that looks glossy - maybe be skin or just waxed paper.

6 x 5 inches

Original estimated to be from the mid - late 1800s and the reinforcement and binding from the mid-late 1900s.

Antique Yao Shaman Ritual Manuscript with Illustrations

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This item has spent a lifetime being used for the purpose of its creation with the original artist/user. Signs of this life lived heartily may be present on the piece in the form of stains, thread loss, loose threads, holes, tears, color run and other imperfections. Therefore the condition must be assumed to be “not” perfect. More photos of such imperfections will be provided on request.

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