Post-Earthquake Death Rituality and Cultural Revitalization at the Tibetan Pilgrimage Site of Gyanak Mani in Yushu (West China, Qinghai)

The Gyanak Mani is a Buddhist pilgrimage site located in the Tibetan region of Kham, Yushu Prefecture (Qinghai Province - prc). This huge pile of votive stones carved with mantras has recently been recognized as the "greatest maniwall in the world" and it constitutes the core of a mandala...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Chies, Monia (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Morcelliana 2014
In: Studi e materiali di storia delle religioni
Year: 2014, Volume: 80, Issue: 1, Pages: 318-340
Further subjects:B Yushu earthquake
B Yushu Earthquake, China, 2010
B Cultural maintenance
B Earthquake damage
B Buddhist pilgrims & pilgrimages
B Religion
B Gyanak Mani
B post-disastro
B mani-stones
B Disasters
B terremoto Yushu
B Pilgrimage
B post-disaster
B pellegrinaggio
Parallel Edition:Non-electronic
Description
Summary:The Gyanak Mani is a Buddhist pilgrimage site located in the Tibetan region of Kham, Yushu Prefecture (Qinghai Province - prc). This huge pile of votive stones carved with mantras has recently been recognized as the "greatest maniwall in the world" and it constitutes the core of a mandala complex which was revealed at the beginning of the 18th century by the errant yogi Gyanak. In April 2010 the entire urban area of Yushu was devastated by a violent earthquake, followed by the on-going reconstruction plan, based on the eco-tourist development of this Tibetan area. This paper is mainly an account of ethnographic records which aims to highlight temporary cultural responses to the "disaster". Particularly, focus of the analysis will be the elaboration of the post-mortem dimension enacted by the local community soon after the earthquake and a singular cultural revitalization process, both of which are closely linked to this sacred place. Finally, the description of the place-making process and of the pilgrimage's sacred geography will lay the necessary groundwork for a better understanding of the above mentioned central issues. (English)
ISSN:2611-8742
Contains:Enthalten in: Studi e materiali di storia delle religioni