Hmong Ring Rattles 2

Hmong shamans employ a number of sonic ritual tools in their quest to heal an afflicted person.  One of these comes as tswb neeb (cheu neng), known as “spirit bells,” a hollow bronze cast ring rattle filled with jangling metallic pellets.

Inspired by the bells and ringed rattles that bedeck Hmong pack ponies, the tswb neeb, adorned with red cloth ribbons, symbolically represent the bells that decorate the harness of the shaman’s winged horse.

When played in pairs, ring rattles are regarded as a couple, a “mother ring,” tswb niam (cheu nia), and a “father ring,” tswb txiv (cheu tsi). Shamans identify them aurally by their timbre or visually by their shapes or markings.

In Thai and Laos Hmong communities, ring rattles may be spherically shaped without embellishment or flat and marked with simple repoussé geometric patterns that radiate from the center. Tswb neeb from China often display hammered metalwork designed as the eight Taoist trigrams of pa-gua (ba-gwa), symbols co-opted by the Hmong over centuries of association with the Chinese.

At the start of a ua neeb healing ceremony, a Hmong shaman, seated and veiled, slips two hollow bronze ring rattles, tswb neeb, “spirit bells,” on two fingers of the left hand. Each ring must be carefully positioned on the middle finger, first finger, or thumb, allowing enough space between them so that their bright timbre is not muffled. Some shamans perform the ceremony with just a single ring rattle.

A shaman shakes these rings throughout the ceremony in counterpoint to an additional large rattle, txiab neeb (tsia neng), wielded in his right hand, with such force as to create penetrating, metallic reverberations that let all ancestors, souls, and spirits know that a brave shaman is entering their realm.

With rattles in both hands clanging and all helper spirits now assembled in a battalion, the shaman jumps on his winged horse – the ritual bench, rooj neeb (drong neng) – prepared to do battle with the evil spirits that are creating the malady in the ailing person.

Recording
Ua neeb healing ceremony

Hu qhua neeb, “summoning shaman helper spirits,” sacred song, nruas neeb gong, txiab neeb ritual spirit scissors, and tswb neeb ritual ring rattles (Hmoob Dawb)

Rhiav Lis and Tsav Theeb Muas, Ban Nam La, Luang Nam Tha Province, Laos, July 2005

Ethnic Group: Hmoob Ntsuab (Hmong Njoua) – Blue Hmong

Local Name:
Tswb neeb (cheu neng), pair of rings (“spirit bells”)
Jeu tzii (cheu tsi), (“father ring”)
Jeu nia (cheu nia), (“mother ring”)

Type: Ring Rattles

Class: Shaken Idiophone

Tuning:

Age: Mid-20th c.

Materials: Bronze cast ring with interior metal pellets

Dimensions: 3 x 3.7 dia. cm / 1.5″ x 2″ dia.

Location: Guizhou, China

Owner:

Catalog Number: 5407