Introduction

Chapters in this book

1. i-viii i
2. Acknowledgements ix
3. Contents xi
4. List of Tables xv
5. List of Maps and Diagrams xvii
6. List of Plates xix
7. Introduction 1
8. PART ONE: Historical Background
9. 1 Background to Na-khi Religion 9
10. 2 Kinship, Suicide and Pictographs 28
11. PART TWO: The Basic Structures
12. 3 Elementary Ritual Classification 77
13. 4 The Belief System in the Ritual Framework 95
14. PART THREE: Analysis
15. 5 The Construction of Myth and Ritual 147
16. 6 The Construction of Rites 169
17. 7 The Rites 188
18. 8 The Subceremonies 212
19. 9 The Dominant Symbols 243
20. PART FOUR: Conclusions
21. 10 Summary and Conclusions 257
22. PART FIVE: Appendices
23. APPENDIX I The Na-khi and the Mo-so 275
24. APPENDIX II The Szi Chung Bpö Ritual 297
25. APPENDIX III Computer Analysis 325
26. Notes to Chapters and Appendices 328
27. Bibliography 339
28. Indexes 347
29. 381-386 381