Iu Mien Ritual Rattle 3

Integral to an Iu Mien priest’s ritual paraphernalia is his kim tsin power sword, also known as kim or sui gim, an iron rattle displaying a menacing knifepoint and a prominent pommel forged with elaborate hoops through which jangling metal rings pass. The kim tsin comes in two sizes, producing different timbres and serving different purposes: The penetrating reverberations of the hefty ‘male’ kim tsin, marked by multiple intersecting hoops with numerous rattling rings, are heard at major rites; while the smaller ‘female’ dagger, with fewer, lighter, higher-pitched rattles encircling a single loop, is used for minor ceremonies.

The kim tsin’s hilt is traditionally adorned with vibrant red ribbons and pompoms, the auspicious color of bravery and power favored by spirits.

Note: This diminutive ‘female’ kim tsin was forged with a single hoop, into which multiple small rattling iron rings are threaded and red ribbons are tied.  An Iu Mien priest gently shakes the blade in his right hand as he recites sacred Yao Daoist verses at his altar or the Big Door.

The altar of every Iu Mien high priest is laden with tools of spiritual import—ritual books, pouches of rice, five ceramic teacups, a bowl of lustral water, paper ‘spirit money,’ joss sticks, candles, divination blocks, ritual musical instruments of bell, horn, and cymbals, and the all-important ceremonial power sword, kim tsin.

For the Iu Mien, the kim tsin, with its menacing blade that protects and its jangling metal rattles that communicate, plays a critical role in the sonic environment that accompanies sacred enactments.

The high priest begins every major ceremony by blowing the hallowed water buffalo horn, chorng, at the Big Door to invite the Jade Emperor, P’an Hung, and the Iu Mien collective of deities, ancestors, and spirits to attend the ceremony.  While reciting Yao Daoist sacred text and spewing lustral water alternately, he simultaneously shakes his kim tsin to expel evil spirits and misfortune from the village, the home, or a patient’s body, depending on the rite. The priest finally tosses grains of rice, symbolic spirit soldiers, to defend the Iu Mien people.

Ethnic Group: Iu Mien

Local Name: Kim tsin

Type: Ritual Rattle / Ceremonial Power Sword

Class: Shaken Idiophone

Tuning:

Age: Mid-20th c.

Materials: Iron, cotton

Dimensions: 19 x 1.5 cm / 7.5″ x 0.6″

Location: Thailand

Owner / Instrument Maker:

Catalog Number: 5888