What religions do the Li, Gaoshan, Yi and Qiang people believe in?

Let’s talk specifically about Qiang religion:

Polygod worship mainly worships the “five gods”. On the flat roof of the Qiang houses, there are usually five white quartz stones, representing the gods of heaven, earth, mountains, mountain gods and tree gods. They believe that gods have the highest status. According to folklore, the ancestors of the Qiang people came to the upper reaches of the Minjiang River to fight with foreigners during a great migration. After repeated defeats, they decided to abandon their land and leave. Suddenly, he received a revelation from the gods in his dream. He hung a woolen thread around his neck as a symbol, and used wooden sticks and white stones as weapons. He finally won and lived in peace and contentment. In order to repay the God's grace, he later used the white stone as a symbol of the God and all gods, and worshiped it day and night. In addition to the five white stones on the roof of each house, there are also white stones in the sacred forest near the village. The former is for private sacrifices, while the latter is for public sacrifices throughout the village. In addition to the five gods mentioned above, they also enshrine white stones indoors, symbolizing the ancestral gods of the family and the dominant male and female gods. Some gods who are considered to be directly related to production and life, such as the God of Fire, the God of the Earth, the God of Six Animals, the God of Doors, the God of Water Tanks, the God of Warehouses, the God of Bunkers, the God of Stonemasons, the God of Blacksmiths, etc., are also highly valued. Each village also has its own local gods, and they are divided into good and evil. The righteous gods are considered to be local protector gods, while the evil gods are responsible for causing harm to people. (See color picture)

Qiang Religion

Sacrifice to heaven and pray for rain are the most solemn religious activities. It is usually held in March or May of the lunar calendar. In some places, another event is held in October, which is called "voting". The sacrificial ceremony is held in the sacred forest of each village and is presided over by the wizard. At the same time, sacrifices are made to the mountain gods, so they are also called mountain sacrifices. Participants are all male members of the village, and several sheep or cattle are sacrificed. When offering sacrifices, first burn cypress branches and pour wine into the ears of live animals. If the animals tremble, it means that the gods have accepted it, which is called "leading the animal." Then they are slaughtered and the wizard chants sutras and worships the heaven. After the sacrifice, the wizard tells the history and legends of the nation, everyone gets their share of mutton or beef, and they part ways happily. When there is a drought, a rain praying ceremony is held. Before praying for rain, no one is allowed to go up the mountain to cut firewood, dig medicine or hunt, which is called "forbidden mountain". If anyone violates the prohibition, the patrol officers will beat them until they bleed to please the gods. After the forbidden mountain, the wizard will perform a trick to pray for rain; if it does not work, each village will send people, led by the wizard, to the top of the "holy mountain" to cry for rain. In some places, a "drought demon hunt" is carried out. A person pretends to be a drought demon and hides it in the bushes. A wizard leads the search and chase throughout the mountains until the drought demon is exhausted and captured, then it is believed that there will be rain. There is also a way of praying for rain, which is to ask married women to go to the forest and sing vulgar rain songs about sexual behavior to promote rain.

Totem ruins ① Sheep totem. The Qiang people call themselves "Erqian", whose sound is similar to the sound of sheep. The ancient Qiang people hung wool threads around their necks to imitate the shape of a sheep; today the Qiang people also hang wool threads during crowning and filth removal ceremonies to show that they are one with the sheep. During the funeral, a sheep is slaughtered to "lead the way" for the deceased. An autopsy is performed, and it is believed that the body of the sheep can reflect the disease of the deceased. ②Monkey totem. Legend has it that the Qiang wizards learned magic because of the guidance of the divine monkey. Therefore, wizards wear monkey skins as hats, worship monkey heads, and respectfully call monkeys ancestors and masters. ③Horse totem. In the northern part of Mauveen and the Blackwater area, white horses are still worshiped and horse meat is not eaten.

The wizard Qiang people call him "Xu" or "Shibi". He not only serves as the chief priest of the sacrificial ceremony, but also wards off evil spirits, exorcises ghosts and cures diseases. Because he is familiar with the historical allusions and myths of his nation, has a certain knowledge of medicine, and can also recite mantras and perform witchcraft, he is considered to have the ability to control nature, make livestock reproduce and harvest crops, and even influence people's destiny. All sacrifices related to production and life, making vows, removing impurities, exorcising spirits, exorcising ghosts, curing diseases, getting married, reassuring spirits, and sending souls away are all presided over by wizards. The shaman's clothing is usually white, with a sheepskin jacket and a monkey skin hat or bamboo hat. The instruments include: ① Sheepskin drum. About 3 feet in diameter, used to invite gods; ②Wooden divine staff. The head of "Ghost King" is engraved on the top and covered with iron sheet on the bottom, which is used to drive away ghosts; ③ monkey head. Made from the skull of a golden monkey, used to worship gods; ④Bronze cast bell. Used for chanting sutras and mantras. Various magical instruments are tied with animal hair, sheep's horns, copper and iron sheets, etc. The wizard does not take off his job, but collects fees for his practice. Wizards can teach disciples and pass on the tradition. All scriptures and mantras are taught orally. Generally, you need to study for three to five years, and only after being approved by the master and awarded a magic weapon can you start practicing.

A few believe in Buddhism (Tibetan)