Оңтүстік-Шығыс Азия халықтары: Кам тайпасының мәдениеті мен тарихы

Ethnic group of southeast Asia

The Kam people (Kam: Gaeml, ), officially known in China as Dong people , are a Kam–Sui people and one of the 56 ethnic groups officially recognized by the People's Republic of China. They live mostly in eastern Guizhou, western Hunan and northern Guangxi. Small pockets of Kam speakers are found in Tuyên Quang Province in Vietnam. They are famed for their native bred Kam Sweet Rice , carpentry skills and unique architecture, in particular a form of covered bridge known as the "wind and rain bridge" The Kam people call themselves Kam, Geml, Jeml or Gaeml.

The Kam are thought to be the modern day descendants of the ancient Rau peoples who occupied much of southern China. Kam legends generally maintain that the ancestors of the Kam migrated from the east. According to the migration legends of the Southern Kam people, their ancestors came from Guangzhou, Guangdong and Wuzhou, Guangxi. The Northern Kam maintain that their ancestors fled Zhejiang and Fujian because of locust swarms. Some scholars (mainly Chinese) also believe that the Kam were a branch of the Bai Yue from the first century CE. The Bai Yue inhabited the Yangze River basin after the collapse of the Yue Kingdom around the first century CE which led to the establishment of many small chiefdoms. Sui, Maonan and Mulao are the languages most closely related to Kam. Historically, Northern Kam has been influenced by Chinese much more than has Southern Kam. Neighbors are invited and bring food and gifts. Announcing the birth to the mother's family. Visit from the female relatives on the third day or so; gifts are brought. Homage expressed to the land god for the birth of a male child (practiced by the Northern Kam). Building a "bridge" – Three wooden planks are lined up side by side to express goodwill to passing people. Wrapping the hands – The child's hands are wrapped to help prevent him or her from stealing things later on in life. First haircut at the age of one month. First eating of fermented rice at the age of about one month. First eating of meat dipped in wine at six months old – considered a major milestone.

Like those of the Miao people, Kam funerals are highly elaborate. People who died from unnatural causes (e. g., accidents) are cremated, while those who died from natural causes are buried. Burial consists of the following phases:
Receiving the breath – listening for last words and the person's the last breath. Drinking clear tea – Three spoonfuls of "clear tea" and a small pieces of silver are placed into the recently deceased person's mouth. Buying water for washing the corpse. "Washing" the corpse – The corpse is covered with wet money paper. Putting on the graveclothes – Old clothes are taken off. Arranging the "dream bed" – The suona is played during the vigil. Starting on the road – A red cock is killed, and the corpse is removed from the dream bed and placed into a coffin. White headcloths are worn by the mourners (also practiced by the Han Chinese). Digging the "well" (grave). Holding the memorial ceremony – Presents are distributed. Going up the mountain – Coffins are usually placed high up on a mountainside. Placing the coffin into the "well" – A chicken is killed and prayers are said. The chicken is then lowered into the grave and pulled back out again for later consumption. Holding the funeral receptions – Lunch and dinner are held. Returning to the mountain – The sons return to the grave to build a grave mound. The dead person is called to "go back home" to live at the altar to the family's ancestors. "Transferring the sons" (if the dead is female) – This is a ceremony in which the duties of filial piety are transferred from the deceased mother to her eldest brother or the eldest brother's representative.

The Kam people are traditionally polytheistic with many elements of animism. Totems include turtles, snakes, and dragons, and worshiped ancestors include the mythical figures of Song Sang, Song En, Zhang Liang, and Zhang Mei. However, the Kam have been influenced by Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism through historical contacts with the Han. This influence is mainly seen in regards to ancestor worship, funeral rites, and certain festivals like the Spring and Dragon Boat Festivals. The Kam also use rice grains, bamboo roots, snails, and chicken bone, eyes, blood, and eggs for divination. Today, Taoism, Buddhism, and to a lesser extent Christianity are practiced by the Kam.

Traditional Kam religion uses many taboos, omens, and fetishes. The fetishes are usually plant parts such as tree branches, reeds, leaves, and roots. Some of the taboos and superstitions are listed below. Not marrying in the Chinese Year of the Tiger, since they must wait around nine years before giving birth to their first infants. Pregnant women cannot participate in marriage ceremonies or arrangements, visit sick acquaintances, or sacrifice to gods. Women cannot give birth in their mothers' home. There are many other childbirth related taboos and superstitions. Children cannot have haircuts before the age of one month old. The locks of hair from the first haircut must be stored and not be disposed of. Coffins cannot have any metal objects inside them, since departed souls fear metal objects, especially copper. Corpses should not be placed inside coffins during rainy weather. Names are not to be called out when a corpse is being carried to its grave. Chopsticks should not be tapped on bowls, as this is reminiscent of beggars' behavior. The meat of crows or dead wild animals with unknown causes of death bring bad luck and should not be eaten. Unmarried men should not eat pig feet, since pigs have split hooves. New houses should not be built if a neighbor has recently died. Pregnant women should not watch new houses being built. Wood struck by lightning cannot be used for building houses. Main entrances of two houses should not directly face each other as this will cause severe quarreling. It is best to move into new houses at night when the village is already asleep. Nothing should be bought on the first day of the Chinese New Year, as this might cause materials to diminish for the new year. On this day, floors should not be swept, rubbish should not be thrown out, friends should not be visited, arguments should be avoided, and knives should not be used to cut food. The lusheng should not be played between the sowing and transplanting of rice seedlings, since it could attract plagues of insects. Meeting a pregnant woman while hunting is considered bad luck. While hunting, the names of animals should not be shouted so that the mountain god is not aroused to protect them. Fish swimming upstream are protected by the gods, and catching one will result in bad luck. Leaving home on the 7th, 17th, or 27th day of the month is unlucky. (This custom is also practiced by the Chinese.) A recently deceased person will rise up if a cat jumps over them. Therefore, all domesticated animals must be kept away from them.

Rituals involving supernatural elements include dragon dances, spring buffalo dances, and fire prevention ceremonies where ash is placed in boats and sent downstream. Sorcery can be performed in private. There are many purposes of sorcery, such as repelling evil spirits, recovering the soul of a disturbed child, exacting revenge on enemies, and inducing love. Voodoo dolls, borrowed from the Chinese, are made so that pins can be stuck onto them, with the person's name and birth date written on them. The doll is then buried underground after being inserted into a clay pot. White cocks can be used for revenge sorcery. Shamanism is practiced by the Kam and bears many parallels with Miao (Hmong) shamanism. One major duty of shamans is to recover the souls of sick people.