ngồi đồng

Definition

1. Verb phrase:
   • To sit for spirit possession: The primary meaning refers to the ritual act of sitting in a specific manner to prepare for and allow a spirit or deity to enter one's body, a practice associated with certain Vietnamese folk religious and spiritual traditions.
   • To perform as a spirit medium: It denotes the practice of a medium entering a trance state to communicate with or convey the will of spirits, often involving speaking and acting under their perceived influence.

Usage Examples

• Verb phrase:
  • Bà ấy thường ngồi đồng vào ngày rằm. (She often sits for spirit possession on the full moon day.)
  • Theo tín ngưỡng dân gian, người ngồi đồng có thể nói giọng của các vị thần. (According to folk belief, a person who performs as a medium can speak in the voices of deities.)
  • Lễ ngồi đồng thường diễn ra tại các đền, phủ. (The ritual of sitting for spirit possession usually takes place at temples and shrines.)

Advanced Usage

• The term is central to the practice of Đạo Mẫu (Mother Goddess Religion) and hầu đồng (the ritual of spirit mediumship). "Ngồi đồng" can be seen as the act that initiates or is part of the larger "hầu đồng" ceremony.
  • Trước khi hầu đồng, các thanh đồng phải ngồi đồng để thần linh nhập. (Before the mediumship ritual, the mediums must sit for possession so the spirits can enter.)

Variants and Related Words

• Hầu đồng (v): to serve the spirits, the full ritual of spirit mediumship, often involving music, dance, and elaborate costumes.

  • Hầu đồng là một di sản văn hóa phi vật thể của Việt Nam. (Spirit mediumship ritual is an intangible cultural heritage of Vietnam.)

• Thanh đồng (n): a spirit medium (the person who performs "hầu đồng" or "ngồi đồng").

  • Cô ấy là một thanh đồng có tiếng. (She is a renowned spirit medium.)

• Nhập đồng (v): to be entered by a spirit; the moment of spirit possession.

  • Sau khi ngồi đồng một lúc, bà bắt đầu nhập đồng. (After sitting for possession a while, she began to be entered by the spirit.)

Synonyms

• To go into a trance: to enter a semi-conscious state often associated with spiritual practices.
• To act as a medium: to serve as an intermediary between the spirit world and the physical world.

Related Cultural Context

• Ngồi đồng is a practice rooted in Vietnamese folk religion, specifically within the Tín ngưỡng thờ Mẫu (Mother Goddess worship). It is not considered a mainstream Buddhist or Christian practice. The associated rituals are colorful, performative, and involve specific music (hát văn) and offerings.
  • Nghi lễ ngồi đồng thường đi kèm với hát văn và dâng lễ vật. (The sitting for possession ritual is usually accompanied by ritual singing and the offering of gifts.)