羌族释比与丧葬

The Qiang Shibi and Funeral

释比,是羌语对羌族民间经师的一种称呼,是羌民族社会自然崇拜,万物有灵信仰的产物,这在古羌部落社会时就已出现。释比作为羌族社会历史、文化等的主要传承者,在羌民族社会生活中有其极高的地位。受羌族社会之民俗信仰的支配,依照羌人的生死观,人死后,其灵魂永不消亡,生者要为其送别,由此也派生出繁多的丧葬形式。释比,自然也成为丧葬礼仪中不可缺少的角色。

Shibi is a Qiang dialect for a folk Qiang wizaard. It is regarded as the product of the Qiang's nature worship and belief of animism.As the important spreader of the Qiang history and culture, Shibi occupies an extremely high position in the Qiang society. According to the Qiang folk customs, beliefs and the Qiang's auttitude towards life and death, after a man dies, those who are still alive have to attend the grand funeral ceremony, in which shibi plays and important part.