Practices and Religion in East Asia and Africa CREATED BY: THE AMATEUR HISTORIANS JASAUN CLARK | LEARENNA REYNOLDS SHANIA SMITH

Vocabulary Shamanism- A religion practiced by indigenous peoples of far northern Europe and Siberia that is characterized by belief in an unseen world of goods, demons, and ancestral spirits responsive only to the shamans. Animism- The attribution of a soul to plants, inanimate objects, and natural phenomena. Veneration- Great respect, reverence

Continued… Ancestor- One from whom a person is descended and who is usually more remote in the line of descent than a grandparent. Ancestor Veneration- (also know as Ancestor Worship) Is the belief that dead family members spirits are around their family and have the ability to influence the future of living relatives. Mummification- (especially in ancient Egypt) preserve (a body) by embalming it and wrapping it in cloth. Shrine- a place regarded as holy because of its associations with a divinity or a sacred person or relic, typically marked by a building or other construction. Altar-the table in a Christian church at which the bread and wine are consecrated in communion services.

East Asia In East Asia, there are many of examples and reasons why the paid respect to their ancestors in East Asia because it’s part of the culture and what the believe is the right thing to do. Also, in the late prehistoric period in Southeast Asia, the dead-were interred in patterned cemeteries structured, it is thought, on the basis of family or ancestral relationships.

Ancestor Veneration In ancient China and Egypt, the influence of ancestors was very great. They were buried in expensive graves and in Egypt a permanent death cult was instituted. It was generally believed that the lack of veneration would cause the deceased to die a second death, which was for many people an almost unbearable thought. An example of ancestor veneration in East Asia is the famous six shrines at King Indravavaman’s temple of Preah Ko at Hariharaiya. The three towers of the front row were dedicated to Rudravam and Prithivindradevi, and Dharanindradevi. Each shrine would have contained an image of the ancestor, and it is notable that their names were combined with that of Siva by using the suffix –esvara. Another example of ancestral worship in East Asia one of the largest and centrally placed brick sanctuary housing temple of Pre Rup was designed to honor the king and his ancestors in the context of the god Siva.

Here are two images of ancestor veneration ➢ These two pictures are showing the people of East Asia worshipping their ancestors using shrines. ➢ Ceremonial procedures to honor dead relatives were held in homes, temples, and graveyards. Shrines devoted to past relatives were kept in homes. ➢ Family members return to the house of their parents to honor the spirits of the deceased.

Continued… The Chinese would seek advice from their ancestors as well as praise them. Ancestor veneration in China showed family loyalty. Japan took similar venerations from the Chinese to give reverence their ancestors. Although Confucianism was never a wide spread religion in Japan, the memorial idea of the religion was very important to the Japanese and was adapted to the Shinto religion. Japanese ceremonies of the dead were made up of extravagant funerals and many memorials. Shrines and alters were dedicated to the spirits of a particular family’s ancestors. As in the Hispanic culture, the Japanese had an annual ceremony where the dead would visit their homes. The ancestors were believed to give guidance to their relatives In East Asia, ancestor veneration was very important. In China, Confucianism strongly emphasized the practice of giving reverence to one’s ancestors. The classical Chinese believe that their ancestors’ souls lived on after they died. Families in classical East Asia were seen more as a unit of those living and dead as opposed to seeing a family on their own.

Africa Ancestor veneration was very important to the Egyptians. Ancestors were seen as friends and protectors of the relatives. The relatives of the ancestors would honor them by giving the dead a proper burial and protecting their grave. Since the Egyptians believed in the afterlife, belongings were placed in the tombs along with the mummified body. They would mummify the body so that the soul of the ancestor could inhabit it after death. These belongings would follow the ancestor’s soul to the afterlife. In the case of a pharaoh, large monumental tombs were built to harbor the body.

Images of Africa ancestor veneration (worship) These two pictures are of African altars and shrines that are sacred spaces. African shrines and altars are sculptures built from the faiths and visions of their makers. They constantly change over time. Offerings are added, old altars crumble, and they are constantly renewed with ritual activity. Shrines and altars are built for gods and ancestors. Objects placed on the altars are symbolic of the god and contribute to the success of the worship.

Continued… In other parts of Africa, almost every tribe practiced ancestor veneration. Ancestors were seen as keepers and guiders of life. They consider the deceased ancestors as a part of the family along with the living members. They believed that the ancestors kept a spiritual connection with them. The Africans made their ancestors part of every event such as a funeral or wedding. In these events, offerings were made to honor the ancestors. These offerings were things life chickens or cows. The Africans would also build shrines and altars to honor their ancestors. People also honored the ancestors through dance. The African people also believed that you could only become an ancestor if you lived a good life because ancestors were to give spiritual guidance. Dying was not a good enough way to become a spirit guide. If an ancestor was unhappy with the path one had taken, an offering was usually given to the spirit of that ancestor. Sangomas are part of spiritual traditions and are responsible for healing and telling the future

Animism in Africa Those who follow African Traditional Religion (ATR), also called animism, have no formal religion. Instead there are basic ideas that form the workings of their lives.

Continued... Six basic principles or "worlds" guide their beliefs: Holistic world—the group is more important than the individual. Spiritual world—every effect has some spiritual cause. The living and dead are linked. They believe their ancestors play an active role in their day-to-day lives. Mythical world—it preserves unity and validates their people group's unique identity. Ritualistic world—all rites of passage are memorized and passed down; this includes things like traditional dances. Rhythmic world—governed by the cycles of planting and harvest, wet and dry season, winter and summer. Harmonious world—the group reigns over the individual and the highest value is harmony. No one should bring shame upon his house, village or people. This will disrupt the harmony. Fear and power are twin axes on which the world of the traditional religionist turns. He lives his life in fear because life and death always walk hand in hand.