What should be the name of the objects sacrificed to the gods by ethnic minorities?

The custom of offering sacrifices to gods by ethnic minorities is very common in ethnic areas. God worship is the highest form of nature worship. Life is born between heaven and earth, life comes from parents, heaven is like father, earth is like mother, grains nourish life, life ends, body is buried, soul ascends to heaven and reunites with ancestors. This is the life connotation of the worship of heaven culture. This concept has run through the national consciousness of ethnic minorities since ancient times and has become the cornerstone of ethics. With the changes of social history, the ancient folk custom of offering sacrifices to heaven has faded or even disappeared in the vast Han areas, but in ethnic areas, the former style can still be seen. The Wa nationality in Yunnan is a minority living in the southwest border of the motherland. In the Republic of China, it was still in the last stage of primitive society. The god they worship is called "Muyiji". In the traditional religious beliefs of Wa people, Mu Yiji is not only the creator god, but also the ancestor god. He dominates the wind, rain, thunder and electricity in nature, and is in charge of the birth, illness and death of human beings. He can not only benefit mankind, but also bring disaster to mankind. Therefore, he must pay homage to Muyiji, make a pious sacrifice, and pray that he will not bring disaster and bless mankind. Historically, the Wa people in Ximeng County, Yunnan Province have an ancient custom of offering the hunter's head and blood to the gods of Muyiji and Gu (that is, Guji Society, which belongs to only a few places) for good weather and long life. Headhunting sacrifice is the most solemn ritual activity in Wa religion, which revolves around wooden drums (which are sacred objects and symbols of gods and valley gods). The ritual procedures are complex and strict, including headhunting, joint, head sacrifice and delivery. The wizard prayed to the head on behalf of all the fallen people, asking the gods to bless the safety of people and animals in the village and the bumper harvest of crops. With the development of Wa society, the blood sacrifice of headhunters has gradually changed. After 1950s, under the education and guidance of the local government, the Wa people gradually gave up this old custom, and kept the custom of offering sacrifices to the God of Heaven and Valley with the blood of bison, praying for peace and contentment, good luck, happiness and well-being. The ox is the mascot of the Wa nationality, and sacrificing the ox head shows piety to the gods.

Many ethnic minorities expressed their gratitude to the gods for their beliefs and sacrificial ceremonies. The "Mu Nao Zongge" of Jingpo nationality in Yunnan developed from the song and dance of offering sacrifices to the sun god, and its cultural origin is the worship of the gods and the sun god. "Eye and brain" means grand ceremony; "Eye-brain singing" means that everyone comes to sacrifice, sing and dance. The altar of the ceremony was chosen in an empty valley wasteland. In the center of the altar stands a tall and majestic stone tablet, Optimus Prime and a pillar of the gods, surrounded by several totem poles. The whole sacrificial ceremony and ceremony were carried out with memorial tablets as the core, and the ceremony was presided over by Zhaiwa (the high priest), the highest sacrificial official of Jingpo nationality. First of all, a ceremony of offering sacrifices to heaven was held, including asking the gods for instructions, reciting eulogy and offering sacrifices (that is, killing pigs, sheep and cattle). When the words of offering sacrifices to the gods recited by Zhai Wa came to an end, many priests and dancers held the opening ceremony. Then, thousands of Jingpo people stepped on the drums one after another and slowly entered the dance floor in an orderly manner. Under the leadership of the leading dancers, they formed a winding and regular dance queue, singing and dancing according to the moire lines on the eye columns, marching from north to south, and repeating their ancestors from the north (that is, Gansu). At this time, the "eye-brain longitudinal song" officially began, and it didn't stop all night until the singing and dancing for three days and three nights ended. The dance action of "singing with eyes and brains" symbolically bows and worships the gods (mainly the gods and the sun gods), and entertains the gods with songs and dances, that is, offering sacrifices to the gods with music and dance, and praying for the prosperity of people and animals, abundant crops, safety and disaster-free, etc.

Naxi people living in the southwest of China generally believe in Dongba, a traditional religion. Dongba Sutra talks about the three realms of Dongba religion: God, Ghost and World. It is believed that gods bless mankind and ghosts make trouble, and people can only rely on gods to seek happiness and avoid disasters. Therefore, since ancient times, the Naxi people have attached great importance to offering sacrifices to the gods (called "Meibu"), believing that unless they participate in offering sacrifices, they will not be recognized as Naxi people, and offering sacrifices to heaven has become a symbol of national identity. They think they are "sons of heaven" and worshippers of heaven ("Naxi worshippers"). The religious ceremony of Naxi people's worship to heaven, whether it is a group or a single family, must be presided over by Dongba priests (worship officials). Worship idols, with two chestnuts representing God and his wife, and a cypress tree in the middle representing ancestor Chongren Lian. In fact, the Naxi people's "worship to heaven" is a religious sacrifice custom combining nature worship and ancestor worship. Manchus in Northeast China are called "poles for offering sacrifices to heaven" or "poles for offering sacrifices to gods", which is the most distinctive ancient custom of "erecting poles for offering sacrifices to heaven". These gods are called "Abu Kahn Li Du". Set up a sacred pillar, an altar, a cooker and a sacrifice, and the shaman will preside over the sacrifice. The worshippers knelt down to listen to the Oracle. After that, they sacrificed to the gods, smeared their blood on the top of the poles of the gods, and offered blood sacrifices to the gods. Wrapping the genitals of livestock on the sacred pillar symbolizes the exuberance of human and animal fertility, which is the heritage of ancient ancestors' reproductive worship.

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