thượng đồng
Definition
- Verb (archaic):
- To enter a trance state: Refers specifically to the ritual act of a spirit medium or shaman entering a state of trance or possession, often as part of a traditional religious or spiritual ceremony.
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- Thầy pháp chuẩn bị thượng đồng để giao tiếp với thần linh. (The ritual master prepared to enter a trance to communicate with the deities.)
- Nghi lễ bắt đầu khi bà đồng bắt đầu thượng đồng. (The ceremony began when the female medium started to enter a trance.)
Advanced Usage
- This term is primarily used in the context of Đạo Mẫu (Mother Goddess worship) and related Vietnamese indigenous religious practices. It describes the pivotal moment of spiritual connection.
Variants and Related Words
- Lên đồng (v): A more common, contemporary synonym meaning "to go into a trance" or "to perform spirit mediumship."
- Bà ấy thường xuyên lên đồng tại đền thờ. (She often goes into a trance at the temple.)
Synonyms
- To enter a trance: The general act of going into a spiritual or mediumistic trance.
- To be possessed: To be entered or controlled by a spirit (though this emphasizes the result more than the ritual act).
Related Cultural Concepts
- Hầu đồng: A spirit mediumship ritual, often involving music, dance, and elaborate costumes, where or is the central act.
- Hầu đồng là một di sản văn hóa phi vật thể của Việt Nam. (Spirit mediumship ritual is an intangible cultural heritage of Vietnam.)