thầy tào
Definition
- Noun:
- A sorcerer or shaman: Specifically refers to a traditional ritual practitioner, often from certain ethnic minority groups in Vietnam, who performs ceremonies for healing, divination, or communicating with spirits.
- A folk healer or medium: A person believed to have the ability to intervene in spiritual matters to cure illnesses, bring good fortune, or ward off bad luck.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Người làng mời thầy tào đến cúng cho bệnh nhân. (The villagers invited the sorcerer to perform a ritual for the sick person.)
- Thầy tào khấn vái và đọc những câu chú. (The shaman prayed and recited incantations.)
Advanced Usage
- The term is culturally specific and is often used in the context of the spiritual practices of groups like the Tày, Nùng, or Dao ethnicities. It denotes a specific social and religious role, distinct from more general terms like "phù thủy" (witch/wizard).
Variants and Related Words
Thầy mo (n): Another term for a traditional healer or shaman, commonly used among other ethnic groups.
- Thầy mo cũng làm nhiệm vụ chữa bệnh bằng nghi lễ. (The thầy mo also performs the duty of healing through rituals.)
Pháp sư (n): A more formal or literary term for a magician or sorcerer, sometimes used in broader contexts.
- Thầy cúng (n): A ritual master who performs worship ceremonies; the role can overlap with that of a .
Synonyms
- Sorcerer: A person who uses magic, often involving spirits.
- Shaman: A person regarded as having access to, and influence in, the world of spirits.
- Medicine man: A traditional healer who uses spiritual methods.
Related Cultural Notes
- The practice of a is deeply connected to animist beliefs and ancestor worship. Their rituals often involve offerings, music, dance, and the use of specific ritual objects.
- This role is traditionally passed down through lineages or chosen by spiritual calling, and it holds significant respect within its community.