Mosuo Funeral Dances with Songs (Photo)

     Mosuo   people in Yunnan, China, performs three types of dances with songs at their   mourning and funeral ceremonies. First, Sitso is a dance with songs that makes the dead person aware of   his own death and takes him to his afterlife. Next, Hamba is a dance with songs performed by young villagers wearing   warrior armors and wielding swords to ward off evil spirits. Finally, Jatso   is performed for the dead person over the age of seventy. This dance is also performed on New Year's   Day.
    This data introduces the above three types of dances with songs showing the   overall flow of mourning and funeral ceremonies.
 

    Date: November 29, 1998 and January 7, 2000
    Place: Luoshui Village and Walapian Village, Ninglang County, Yunnan   Province, China. Ritual Performer: Aweng Tuoding