Question

Briefly discuss what you learned from the reading regarding the Hmong's religious practices and health beliefs. What stood out to you? Read the entire attached article about Hmong Americans

Answer 1

Hmong people

They are the ethnic group, under the mia race, native to Southern China and South East Asia. The word Hmong means ' free. The Hmong population in China is approximately 4, 500,000 and the remaining majority is in Veietnam( nearly 560,000).Some Hmong have emigrated to US. Approximately 250,000 Hmong people are there in US.

Family groups of Hmong people are clans. Their family name come from the clan name. The most of the social and family issues among Hmongs are settled by the clan leaders. Hmong people are basically animist( who believes in a spirit world and its activities wirh the physical world). They believe in reincarnation and also in the existence of different spirits( house spirits and ancestral spirits).

As religious practices Hmong have Animism and shamanism( use of Shamans to communicate with the spiritual world). They treat their ancesters with great respect is called ancestral veneration. Hmong believe that the health amd wellbeing and prosperity of family is based on ancestral worship and proper funeral of deceased. So their funeral rituals are used to extend for 3 days. They are not pleased by touching on the head by strangers especially on their children's head. They used to wear accessories like red necklace, red or white strings around their wrist for their health and religious purpose.

Hmong believe that human body is a host for many souls. They live together. If a man fall sick, through the use of Shaman they will communicate with the spirit world to find out the cause and remedies for the sickness. The traditional treatment also includes the use herbs and offerings and sacrifices of livestock. The ceremony is called "ua neeb". Relatives and friends are invited for the ceremony. All Hmong houses will have a sacred wall paper altar, there the worship and sacrifice are tacking place.

People who inherits the skills of a shaman is highly respected and they show peculiar behaviours. In medical term the symptoms might be due to the mental illness such as Schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. Some may go for western treatment or change their religion for escaping from becoming a shaman.

Many Hmong still follow traditional rituals and herbal remedies for sickness. Postnatal women should follow strict diet and rest for 30 days following childbirth. The diet include fresh Cooked chicken, rice and lemon grass. Some Hmong have a practice of scraping their skin surface with a metal and apply balms on it to openthe skin pores and to release toxins from their body.

1/3rd of American Hmong population became Christians and 70% Hmong still follow traditional religion.