Blood-Brotherhood and Other Rites of Male Alliance by Nathan F. Miller & Jack Donovan

Author:Nathan F. Miller & Jack Donovan [Miller, Nathan F.]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, mobi
Publisher: DISSONANT HUM
Published: 2011-07-30T16:00:00+00:00

Blood-Oaths & Sworn Brotherhood in Asia

Blood oaths, sworn-brotherhood, and blood-brotherhood have had a widespread presence throughout most of the vast region of Asia. The practices have been part of the cultures of central Asia and cultures of the mountainous territories. They have also been part of the traditions of eastern Asia and Indochina. The lengthy history of China also has examples of these customs through many of its historical periods.

Among the Lepcha people of the north Indian state of Sikkim, a relationship of ingzong, meaning “like a younger brother,” was created by a blood-rite. A pig was killed and the intestines offered to the god Komsithing, who was supposed to have invented the ingzong relationship. The men then ate the pork and swore to always love and help each other. A second stage of the ritual was officiated by an elderly man, who prepared a cup of hot millet beer ( chi ) with daubs of butter on its rim. The old man told the ingzong of the importance of the occasion, and warned how Komsithing would send the demon Sankyoor Moong to punish any man who betrayed the oath. The men then drank the chi and ate the butter. This bond was often used to secure trade agreements with neighboring peoples, but even then it had much of the same effects as biological brotherhood; marriage between the men’s descendants was forbidden for nine generations. 1

There is evidence that blood-oaths were made by men of the Northern Indian state of Ladakh, a region so influenced by Tibetan culture that it is sometimes called “Little Tibet.” A Ladakh legend mentions a man who wrote a contract in his blood, and kept the document hidden under his horse’s saddle. 2 In Tibet itself, blood-brotherhood was sealed by blending the blood of the contracting parties, and then the drinking of it. 3

In Nepal, a mit relationship was a ritually created sworn brotherhood; the men who did it were considered as sons of the same father, and their children were prohibited from marrying each other. While the practical benefit of mutual aid between the brothers was one reason for making the bond, mutual affection was the primary reason.

The best day for the ritual was selected by astrological auspices. The ceremony was usually officiated by a Brahmin priest. The two men removed their footwear and their great curved kukri knives. They faced each other across a sacred fire, on which rice, honey, and butter were burned. The men made exchanges of coins and some articles of clothing. Bits of grass, flowers, or rice and curds were placed upon the men. The priest then told them to be true to one another, making reference to Sugriva, the mythological Hindu Monkey-King who became loyal to Rama when the latter went on a quest to defeat the demon-king Ravanna. The priest announced that the two men were thenceforth brothers. The ritual sometimes ended with the two bathing together in a sacred river or pool, and was followed by a feast.

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