疯狂得拍我 issue 207

evilxuanUID: 2692403

Issue207

Words: 413

What is the function of rituals and ceremonies? The author asserts that defining the culture is the only function of rituals and ceremonies and without them people will have a diminish sense of who they are. I agree with the author insofar as rituals could help maintain a culture. However, this is not the only function rituals have.

First, I have to concede that rituals are significant to preserve a culture. As we all know, Chinese nation has more than 50 national minorities besides Han. Each of minority, with their own values, ideas and heritages, is distinct from others mainly by their special rituals and ceremonies. Most of us know the Dai national, which has a ceremony that people will splash water over one another. This special ceremony helps them preserve their culture identity. Otherwise, every national may seems the same result from forgive the special rituals they have.

However, rituals and ceremonies are not root in the culture at first time but in the superstition and spiritual belief. Let us still use the Dai national for example. People believed splash water over one another could wash away the evil spirits and bring happiness and harvest next year. It is the same in western that people celebrate Christmas day because they belief Santa Claus would send presents to them. The culture can never develop without religion belief, and the initial development of rituals and ceremonies is always related to the superstition.

Moreover, rituals and ceremonies are not only means to preserve culture identities. Every national has its own apparel, traditional food, fables and legends, even language and character. All these factors play important roles in maintaining the culture, not only the rituals. 56 national minorities in china all have different apparels and the silver ornament of Miao national is the most famous among the international friends. The Hui national is not allowed to eat pork for they are belief in Islam. The differences between different cultures appear in every aspect in the life. The author considers that only in term of rituals and ceremonies could distinct different cultures and maintain culture identities is too extreme.

To sum up, rituals and ceremonies could help preserve culture identity. But other elements such as traditional customs are also important to the heritage of culture. Without them, people will also confused about who they are. If a culture wants to be maintained, people should respect the values and ideas of it and never push out others.

zyfo2UID: 2692865

a little bit too simple