Begin forwarded message:

From: hing <[log in to unmask]>
Date: June 4, 2006 1:11:49 PM EDT
To: Pamela Crossley <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: fire worship

Dear Pamela,

Fire occupies a very important place in the spiritual and domestic  
life of the Orochen. There are many myths relating to the fire  
spirit, who is portrayed as an old woman and commonly addressed as  
Gulum-ta. In the spatial organization of the 'sierranju', which is  
the conical tent (like a tipi) they live in, the domestic hearth/fire  
is situated in the very centre of the living space (for obvious  
reason). The Orochen make a simple ritual offering to gulum-ta,  
usually by pouring alcohol into the fire, before partaking of their  
meal. There are also taboos associated with treatment of fire - for  
instance, it is not allowed to thrust sharp objects or pour water  
into the fire which will cause harm to the spirit (there is a myth  
about this). When they move camp the Orochen characteristically allow  
the fire to die down naturally, for to extinguish any other way means  
disrespect to the fire and will incur gulum-ta's displeasure. Fire is  
at the centre of all domestic and communal occasions as well.  
Whenever there is a gathering the Orochen dance and sing around the  
fire. indeed, I should think that fire must occupy a very prominent  
position in all north Asian indigenous traditions, for it is what  
separates 'culture' from 'nature', 'cooked' from 'raw'.

Hing


Orochen Foundation is a non-profit organisation dedicated to poverty  
alleviation and cultural preservation of the Orochen minority.


Orochen Foundation
26th Floor, Shanghai Industrial Investment Building
48-62 Hennessy Road
Hong Kong

tel: 852 2559 9436
fax: 852 2559 9486

www.orochen foundation.org
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