essay

Fastening the soul: some religious traits among the Lamet (French Indochina)

compass for fields afar: essays in social anthropology, by karl gustav izikowitzGöTeborg, Sweden • Published In 1985 • Pages: 212-257

By: Izikowitz, Karl Gustav.

Abstract
Rmeet (Lamet) religion recognizes several spirits and supernatural beings believed to reside in human body parts, particular locations within villages, certain crops (most notably rice) and animals, and some natural features and entities. This essay discusses the centrality of such spirits and “souls” in shaping seasonal farming practices, organized rituals, settlement patterns, inter-village relations, burial rituals, clan totems, and other aspects of life at the family and community levels. The Rmeet also recognize certain religious personalities believed to help families and villages deal with malevolent spirits and souls through a combination of sacrificial appeasements and preventive magic.
Subjects
General character of religion
Animism
Animism
Cosmology
Cult of the dead
Organized ceremonial
Prayers and sacrifices
Clans
Tillage
Cereal agriculture
Division of labor by gender
Burial practices and funerals
Shamans and psychotherapists
Magic
Spirits and gods
Public structures
Sacred objects and places
Inter-community relations
Avoidance and taboo
culture
Rmeet
Region
Asia
Sub Region
Southeast Asia
Document Type
essay
Evaluation
Creator Type
Anthropologist
Document Rating
5: Excellent Primary Data
Analyst
Teferi Abate Adem
Field Date
May 1937-January 1938
Coverage Date
1937-1938
Coverage Place
Luang Namtha, Oudômxai, and Bokèo provinces, Laos
Notes
Karl Gustav Izikowitz
LCCN
86162478
LCSH
Lamet (Laotian people)