Mah Songs of the 9 Emperors Festival in Phuket (九皇爷)

The 9 Emperors Jiu Huang Ye (九皇爷) is said to be the nine sons manifested by Father, Emperor Zhou Yu Dou Fu Yuan Jun (斗父周御國王天尊) and Mother of the Big Dipper Dou Mu Yuan Jun (斗母元君), Star Lords who preside over the movement of planets and coordinate mortal Life and Death issues.

On the eve of the ninth moon, temples of the deities hold a ceremony to invoke and welcome the nine emperors. Since the arrival of the gods are believed to be through the waterways, processions are held from temples to the sea-shore or river to symbolize this belief. Devotees dressed in traditional white, carrying incense and candles, await the arrival of their excellencies.

A carnival-like atmosphere pervades the temple throughout the nine-day festival. During this period of time, the constant tinkling of a prayer bell and chants from the temple priests are heard. Most devotees stay at the temple, eat vegetarian meals and recite continuous chanting of prayer. It is believed that there will be rain throughout the nine days of celebration.

The ninth day of the festival is its climax. A procession which draws scores of devotees send the deities back home.

In Thailand, this festival is called Tesagan Gin Je เทศกาลกินเจ, the Vegetarian Festival. It is celebrated throughout the entire country, but the festivities are at their height in Phuket, where about 35% of the population is Chinese.

Mah Song

Mah song ม้าทรง are the people who invite the spirits of gods to possess their bodies. Mah ม้า is the word for horse in Thai, and the name mah song refers to how the spirits of the gods use the bodies of these people as a vehicle, as one rides a horse. Only pure, unmarried men or women without families of their own can become mah song. At the temple they undergo a series of rituals to protect them for the duration of the festival, during which flagellation and self-mutilation is practiced. This tradition does not exist in China and is believed to have been adopted from the Indian festival of Thaipusam.

The festivities in Phuket include a procession of mah song wearing elaborate costumes who pierce their cheeks and tongues with all manner of things, including swords…

Thick Needles…

Drilling Bits…

More swords…

Even Machine Guns…

Banners…

Swords again…

More Needles…

Saw…

Martial Arts Swords…

Grass Cutters…

and Model Ships you normally display in your living room too…

Well basically, anything they can poke through their mouth.

The mystery behind this is that this Mah Songs don’t feel any pain at all while entranced. In fact in the procession they will constantly shake their heads and dance as they walk, as if not paying attention to what’s ahead of them at all.

As unbelievable as it may seem, the fact that human beings can be entranced to withstand such deliberate infliction of wound on the flesh without pain is something worth awing about. Some may say it’s spirits taking over the human body and scientists may argue that it’s just an issue of Mind Over Matter, a testimony of how powerful the human brain is and what it is capable of doing.

What do you think?

Credits :  wikipedia.com