Iu Mien Ritual Divination Blocks

Iu Mien priests of all ranks are skilled in conversing with supernatural beings through both sacred chants and ritual instruments. Prominent among their tools is the cau divination blocks, which are used during all major ceremonies as a means to pose questions and requests to spirits, and to receive their responses and omens.

Previously made of buffalo horn, Iu Mien cau are now constructed from a single, curving piece of solid bamboo, split lengthwise down the center. This creates a matching pair in which each half displays a flat inner surface and a convex exterior.

After Iu Mien priests blow the bellowing chorng buffalo horn to beckon benevolent spirits and brandish the rattling kim tsin ceremonial knife to thwart evil and adversity, they perform sacred chants and read cau augurary blocks to consult with deities so they might determine what actions must be taken in matters concerning life cycles, illness, misfortune, journeys, important life decisions, building new homes, and land issues. Hence, be it at the altar, the Big Door, the cemetery, or the village border, such ritual acts are essential during Iu Mien healing ceremonies, weddings, P’an Hung Festivals, and the many phases of funeral rites.

An Iu Mien priest’s initial act is to strike the two halves of the cau together multiple times in one hand, thus creating a sharp clacking sound that highlights and reinforces his sacred gestures, prayers, and sacraments.

He then poses yes-no questions sotto voce to deities as he casts the cau to the ground, an act he repeats three times.  The spirits’ responses are interpreted by how the blocks fall. If the cau’s two halves land with their inner surfaces facing up, the reply is negative; if they land facing down, it is questionable; if one half faces up and the other down, the response is positive; and if the blocks touch or cross, nothing more can be done and no further action must be taken.

Ethnic Group: Iu Mien

Local Name: Cau

Type: Divination Horn

Class: Struck Idiophone (beater or clapper)

Tuning:

Age: Mid-20th c.

Materials: Bamboo

Dimensions: 13.5 x 4 x 3.5 cm / 5.3″ x 1.5″ x 1.4″

Location: Thailand

Owner / Instrument Maker:

Catalog Number: 5905