{"id":871,"date":"2014-07-12T17:15:19","date_gmt":"2014-07-12T17:15:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.soundislamchina.org\/?p=871"},"modified":"2015-04-30T10:50:06","modified_gmt":"2015-04-30T10:50:06","slug":"the-soundscapes-of-tajik-shrines-in-xinjiang-china","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.soundislamchina.org\/?p=871","title":{"rendered":"The Soundscapes of Tajik shrines in Xinjiang, China"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Soundscapes of Tajik shrines in Xinjiang, China<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Aynur Kadir<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

There are more than 50,000 Tajiks living in China, the majority in the Tashkurgan area of Xinjiang which borders on Tajikistan. They follow the Ismaili branch of Shi’a<\/em>Islam, and they regard the 11th century poet, Nasir Khusraw, as the founding figure ofIsmaili doctrine. Shrine worship is considered an important Ismaili duty. These shrines are believed to have the power to cure infertility and diseases and avert natural and other disasters. There are an estimated 100 shrines in the Tajik region of Xinjiang. During my fieldwork in 2009 and 2010 in and around Tashkurgan, I visited nearly 50 shrines and documented their related legends and rituals.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Shrine_in_Tashkurgan_fig1\"<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0A shrine in Tashkurgan. Photograph by Aynur Kadir.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Everyday shrine worship<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Individuals, families or small community units may visit a shrine with specific requests for happiness, fertility, and freedom from disasters. There are many shrines on the roadside, by rivers and at crossroads. When people pass by these shrines they stop to show their respect (deryup)<\/em>. Both hands are used to touch the shrine or sacred objects and then the chin and forehead, three times. They leave some sacrificial things such as food or money, and often kiss the shrine wall or tree. They recite a shrine prayer which is attributed to Naser Khusraw:<\/span><\/p>\n

Bereqi in diyar, in mazar, el aman, buzurkan, nakan pakan xelq aman, el<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

insan imam, ya ezisima aqiwet medetsah, leshkaran, ghayiban, zulpiqar, her<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

bala her xeter, perwerdigar, amin!<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n

Shrine Prayer, recited by Seid Shamhan. Recorded by Aynur Kadir<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

This shrine, sacred shrine, shrine light, bless us with a home, give us happiness and peace, in this shrine lie martyrs, our fierce sword, with their God, protect us, may the Imam fulfill our desires, amen!<\/span><\/p>\n

The family or whole village may also organise shrine visits to invoke protection from various forms of evil, prayers for good weather, healing diseases, or preventing unexpected disasters. People pick a suitable day, sacrifice halal animals (mainly sheep), read the Qur’an, chant prayers, and recite the names of the 49 Imams, three or seven, even 101 times. Such occasions may be organised following, for example, a car accident, or warnings of floods.<\/span><\/p>\n

Shrine Worship during Major Festivals<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

One of the distinguishing characteristics of shrine worship among the Tajiks is shrine pilgrimage during the major Islamic festivals. These pilgrimages are led by the sheikh<\/em> or a mirap<\/em> (in former times the village\u201cirrigation administrator\u201d). Women prepare a special offering called istiraq<\/em>, made from white flour and butter while reciting the names of the Imams. They bring it to their shrine and pour it on the fire, making a kind of oily fragrance.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>Shrine worship at Pilik Eid<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Pilik Eid is held on the 14th <\/sup>and 15th<\/sup> days of Sha’banmonth. Tajiks hold two big rituals at home and the shrine before and after that night. Because “p<\/em>ilik<\/em>” is literally translated as \u201cwick\u201d or \u201clight\u201d, it is also called the \u201cFestival of Lights\u201d. The first ritual of the first night is called \u201coy pilik<\/em>\u201d (home fire). Families make torches – two for every living family member, and one for every member who has passed away in the last three generations. They put all the sticks together, surrounded by seven different kinds of food, and after reciting some Qur’anic verses by elders in the family, the eldest male in the family will light the sticks. Each family member receives blessing from the lights three times and looks into a bowl of water.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Pilik_Eid_at_home_fig2\"<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Pilik Eid at home. Photograph by Aynur Kadir.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Early on the following morning, people bring two long specially-made sticks called \u201cmazar pilik<\/em>\u201d to the biggest shrine in their village. I participated in the Pilik Eid shrine rituals at Shatalip Mazar in Tiznap village of Tashkurgan county on 6th<\/sup> August, 2009. When people come to the shrine, they kiss the shrine or shrine wall, make deryup<\/em> and offer their pilik<\/em> and food to the sheikh of the shrine, mainly mutton, bread, fruit and candies. Some of them tie coloured cloth to the shrine with special requests. Istiraq<\/em>, the offering made flour with butter,is one of the most essential offerings of the pilik <\/em>cermony, and provides an oily fragrance over the whole shrine. After the pilgrimage, people also visit the tombs of their family and relatives, and light fires on their tombs. The food brought as an offering to the shrine is divided equally among the community. Reciting the Qur’an and the names of the Imams over the food makes it \u201csacred\u201d, with the potential to cure diseases. Worshippers also weep collectively with a strong rhythm. The festival is a place for meeting, repenting, remembering, cultural gathering and religious activities. Such collective rituals deepen feelings of community and strengthen community ties.<\/span><\/p>\n


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