NO. 2 FOLK RELIGION IN SOUTHWEST CHINA — GRAHAM 99 



Lamaism in Tibet is a fusion of Mahayana Buddhism, with a strong 

 mixture of Tantric Buddhism which emphasized the use of magic and 

 the exorcism of demons, with the native Bon reHgion. While we do 

 not know a great deal about Bonism, it is evident that that religion 

 also emphasized magic and the exorcism of evil spirits. 



The number of priests or lamas in proportion to the laity is very 

 large. It is estimated that one out of every five persons is a lama. 

 Every family contributes at least one son to the priesthood, and one 

 lamasery alone is said to have 10,000 priests. 



There are three main sects of Lamaism, and several lesser sects. 

 The three main sects are Red Lamaism, Yellow Lamaism, and Black 

 Lamaism. The Red Lama sect is conservative, the priests sometimes 

 marry, and they wear red hats during ceremonies. The Yellow Lama 

 sect is the reformed sect ; it enforces celibacy, and the priests wear 

 yellow hats and garments. The Black Lamas are more nearly like the 

 original Bon religion. They are regarded as heretical by the Red and 

 Yellow Lamas. They have their own sacred books, and circumambu- 

 late in the opposite direction from the other two sects. 



The main characteristics of Lamaism are — 



1. A hierarchical organization of the priesthood, with local dioceses 

 dependent on a central authority. — Scholars have compared it with the 

 Roman Catholic hierarchy, with the assumption that the resemblances 

 are accidental. 



2. Karma and transmigration. — This is assumed and believed by 

 the priesthood and taught to the people. One's deeds have their re- 

 wards in future existences and determine one's weal or woe, such as 

 whether one is reborn as an insect, a reptile, an animal, a bird, or a 

 human being. The most religious can escape the wheel of transmi- 

 gration and become Buddhas, enjoying eternal bliss in the Buddhist 

 paradise. Some are reincarnated as Living Buddhas and worshiped on 

 earth as living gods. 



3. Religious festivals. — Every lamasery is a center for religious 

 festivals, which are often attended by thousands of worshipers, many 

 of whom come from long distances. These are the great religious and 

 social events of the year. 



There are variations and resemblances in the religious ceremonies 

 as performed by the Red, the Yellow, and the Black Lamas. Several 

 festivals occur during the first lunar month, and others during the 

 later months of the year. These festivals are accompanied by much 

 music, which is often beautiful and alluring. Among the instruments 

 is a long base horn, sometimes 12 feet or more in length, the sound 



