Wen Xiangcheng: Shuguo Wobo

The World Oral Literature Project is pleased to host the video recordings collected by Wen Xiangcheng in 2008. Details of the full collection can be browsed on DSpace@Cambridge by clicking here.

The three videos in this collection depict the Shuguo Wobo ritual held in 2008 in Sanchuan (Minhe Hui and Tu Autonomous County, Haidong Region, Qinghai Province, China). This ritual is held to renew a mountain-top cairn dedicated to an un-named mountain deity who is said to protect local villagers.

Collection Details:

Collection: Wen Xiangcheng: Shuguo Wobo
Collector: Wen Xiangcheng
Date(s): 2008
Language(s): Mangghuer, Tibetan

1. Shuguo Wobo Ritual 1 / 殊果沃博仪式
This ritual is held annually to renew a wobo (sacred mountain-top cairn). The wobo is referred to as Shuguo Wobo 'Big Wobo', and the deity thought to inhabit the cairn is called Wobo Laoye 'Wobo Grandfather'. Wobo Laoye is considered the protector deity for the entire Sanchuan Mangghuer region. Participants in the ritual come from Wangjia, Yangjia, and Qijia, three large Mangghuer villages. This video shows: the valleys and mountains surrounding Shuguo Wobo; the arrival of villagers at the cairn; villagers making offerings of incense, paper, oil lamps, branches, wool, replica wooden weapons, and prayer flags; villagers singing the Tibetan Buddhist mantra of Avalokitishvara, Om mani padme hum; and the arrival of local Tibetan Buddhist monks.
每年都举行这个仪式更新沃博（神圣的山顶上的石冢）。 把沃博称为殊果沃博 “大沃博”，并且认为神，沃博老爷居住在石冢。沃博老爷被认作是土族三川地区的守护神。参与这个仪式的来自于三大土族村的王家和杨家、祈家等。这个影片展示了殊果沃博周围的山沟和山、村民们到达了石冢、 村民们由香和纸、油灯、树枝、羊毛、木制武器，以及经幡供奉。村民们唱藏传佛教中观音菩萨的咒语（唵嘛呢叭咪吽），还有本地藏族佛教的僧侣。
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2. Shuguo Wobo Ritual 2 / 殊果沃博仪式
This ritual is held annually to renew a wobo (sacred mountain-top cairn). The wobo is referred to as Shuguo Wobo 'Big Wobo', and the deity thought to inhabit the cairn is called Wobo Laoye 'Wobo Grandfather'. Wobo Laoye is considered the protector deity for the entire Sanchuan Mangghuer region. Participants in the ritual come from Wangjia, Yangjia, and Qijia, three large Mangghuer villages. This video shows: chanting by Tibetan Buddhist monks, accompanied by music; monks making gtor ma 'dough effigies'; villagers singing the mantra of Avalokitishvara, Om mani padme hum; and villagers continuing to make offerings to Wobo Laoye.
每年都举行这个仪式更新沃博（神圣的山顶上的石冢）。 把沃博称为殊果沃博 “大沃博”，并且认为神，沃博老爷居住在石冢。沃博老爷被认作是土族三川地区的守护神。参与这个仪式的来自于三大土族村的王家和杨家、祈家等。这个影片展示了藏传佛教的僧侣念经，由音乐伴随着。僧侣们在做糌粑朵麻，村民们唱观音菩萨的咒语（唵嘛呢叭咪吽），还有村民们继续供奉沃博老爷。
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3. Shuguo Wobo Ritual 3 / 殊果沃博仪式
This ritual is held annually to renew a wobo (sacred mountain-top cairn). The wobo is referred to as Shuguo Wobo 'Big Wobo', and the deity thought to inhabit the cairn is called Wobo Laoye 'Wobo Grandfather'. Wobo Laoye is considered the protector deity for the entire Sanchuan Mangghuer region. Participants in the ritual come from Wangjia, Yangjia, and Qijia, three large Mangghuer villages. This video shows the departure of participants, including monks, and images of the surrounding valleys and mountains.
每年都举行这个仪式更新沃博（神圣的山顶上的石冢）。 把沃博称为殊果沃博 “大沃博”，并且认为神，沃博老爷居住在石冢。沃博老爷被认作是土族三川地区的守护神。参与这个仪式的来自于三大土族村的王家和杨家、祈家等。这个影片展示了参与者们的离别，包括僧侣，还有周围山沟和山的景象。
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