article
Bone transfers: incomplete replacement in Rmeet ritual exchange
Taiwan Journal of Anthropology • 4 (1) • Published In 2006 • Pages: 79-112
By: Sprenger, Guido.
Abstract
Rmeet society is organized into localized patrilineal lineages forming alliances as “wife-givers” and “wife-takers” that are not only the precondition for physical reproduction, but also the ritual source of fertility for the fields and health for the individual. Both functions are made possible through the exchange of duties and responsibilities. Wife-takers pay a bride price to wife-givers. Lineage members contribute gift items to mortuary sacrifices in exchange for delayed reciprocal returns for other lineage members. This article argues that these exchanges are conceived of as essentially unequal in value. Wife-givers, for example, claim that the bride price is of much less value than the bride as a person. The Rmeet resolve this problem by displacing the items into a religiously-charged third object, the value of which redefines the original value of the items. The analysis supports the theory of asymmetric alliance.
- Region
- Asia
- Sub Region
- Southeast Asia
- Document Type
- article
- Evaluation
- Creator Type
- Anthropologist
- Document Rating
- 5: Excellent Primary Data
- Analyst
- Teferi Abate Adem
- Field Date
- 2000-2002, 2005
- Coverage Date
- 2000-2005
- Coverage Place
- Takheung, Luang Namtha, Laos
- Notes
- Guido Sprenger
- Includes bibliographical references (p. 109-111)
- LCCN
- 2003261195
- LCSH
- Lamet (Laotian people)