Black Hmong woman Song…

Explore: : 227 on Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Giang Thi song, (80’s) Tavan Village.
While her daughter Chai, a medicine woman, was performing a sacred ritual during the New Year ceremony, Song was just out side the door watching the stream of family and friends coming in and out... The Hmong celebrate the New Year (Lunar, same date as the Chinese) for nine whole days. The first day is very quite, and is the one day that women are exempt from doing any work, kind of Hmong Mother Day. The most important day is the 3rd day in which special long ceremonies are held to communicate with the ancestors. This is when this photo was taken.

Most of the Hmong practice Shamanism, where the Shaman, who is a woman in many cases, and Medicine, man or woman, communicate with the spirits of those gone. They believe those spirit, some good some bad, come back and mingle with the living. They see and feel them…

You can find out more here:
www.csuchico.edu/~cheinz/syllabi/asst001/spring98/mainpag...

or here:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shamanism

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Comments

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(248 comments)

NaPix -- Hmong Soul says:

here is another:

<
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

nature photographer. says:

Superb portrait..Well done friend..
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

IQMAL_6 | 6 | 6 says:

nice shot...:)
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

FoNgEtZ says:

Amazing!!!

Your Photo Wins a Heart
From Heart Awards Group .
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

Romy Alcoriza says:

fantastic portrait

Your photo has been appraised as a Platinum Photograph
We would be honored to have your photo in our group!
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Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

Werner Schnell (1.stream) says:

You are my winner!
Please add this photo to
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perfect portrait
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

- Just John - says:

Wow, very nice portrait.
The colour tones are great.
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

Angel ;-) [deleted] says:

Congratulations! Your photo has been nominated as an "The Unforgettable Picture"
You are invited to add your wonderful picture to The Unforgettable Pictures Group
Please read the Group Rules and tag your photo TheUnforgettablePictures INVITE only & Comment on 3
so intense!!!
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

grantthai says:

Fantastic portr8, m8. Well done.

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Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

CHRIS230*** says:

Please add this beautiful photo to CITRIT,Best of yours!
Citrit group

Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

TheMadcapLaughs says:

Black & White Art Award
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

Hic et illic says:

wondeful.. no more to say

Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

Robbi Huner says:

Black & White Art Award
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

together8 ~ Happy New Year ~ says:

excellent portrait !! many rules in her face !!

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Gold Seal of Quality
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

drburtoni says:

great lighting and detail.

Black & White Art Award
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

mauronascimento says:

Beautifully done !! great portrait!

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Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

Ubiquitouscam says:

Napix- Always brilliant!!!!!!!!
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

lorenzo_t says:

Bellissimo ritratto !!

Black & White Art Award
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

jmanj says:

Wonderful portrait!
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

arslan_elver says:

Waow, fantastic portrait...

Black & White Art Award
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

Motive - / - Roy M. (most offline) says:

Wonderful - ^_^ - ♥ -
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

gassa e basta e basta says:

Black & White Art Award
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

luber66 says:

Gorgeous portrait!
Excellent picture!

Your fantastic portrait picture is my winner!
Please add this photo to
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Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

David Lewis-Baker says:

Excellent work! Please also include in the Flickr Fine Art Portrait Gallery
david:>)

Black & White Art Award
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

Reggie_vintage says:

Black & White Art Award
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

°Eli says:

Your picture really is a flickr of hope!
Promoting global understanding & expanding hope
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

pippuz78 says:

Black & White Art Award
great shot!!! love it!!!
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

Agus Ostolaza says:

Hola, soy el administrador de un grupo llamado Rostros en blanco y negro y nos encantaría agregar tu foto al grupo.
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

Amsterdamned! says:

Superb ! Has to show up in Explore :)

Seen in The Flickr Portrait Gallery
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Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

ale neri says:

amazing!!!
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

svetlana1961 says:

You are invited to add this exceptional image to
GOLD STAR AWARD (invite needed)

please add the tag GoldStarAward
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

woodmo says:

What a marvellous face. A perfect black and white portrait.
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

NaPix -- Hmong Soul says:

A big thanks to everyone commenting on Song’s photo.
O’chao, like we say Merci, Gracias, in Hmong :)
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

SkyShaper says:

Impressive & unique work
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

Professor Bop says:

Very striking work. Truly a work of art.
My fave!

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Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

Miguel Servellón says:

Hola, soy el administrador de un grupo llamado NUESTROS ANCIANOS / OUR ELDERLY y nos encantaría agregar tu foto al grupo.
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

Grandma Tina says:

That is a wonderful picture, and an interesting explanation.
"We all drink from the river that is nearest, but all the rivers run into the same sea."
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

Ignatius244 says:

amazing portrait...!! wow!!
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

NaPix -- Hmong Soul says:

Grandma Tina... thanks for your comments
"We all drink from the river that is nearest, but all the rivers run into the same sea."
Yes, but what about the spirits? The Hmong live with the spirits of their ancestors… every day. They are never forgotten…
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

Márcia C says:

I think this is art.. Very well done!!
Congratulations..
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

TMcesn - very busy until mid Jan. says:

Super composed and very sharp portrait
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

FOTOURBANA says:

Great portrait
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

CVNguyen says:

great portrait..
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

trinchetto says:

Wonderful portrait!
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

April Rain Photography says:

That is a beautiful portrait! I'm stunned and amazed.
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

manel luque says:

Excelente.
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

RIPizzo says:

_____________________________________________ _______________________

Vista en

Seen in
“A través de tu mirada”

Amazing what you did... Well done... Keep up the good work Na!
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

wazari says:

Strong portrait with a story to tell..
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

ZitaKamugira (more out than in) says:

a href="http://flickr.com/groups/bwphotoaw ard/" title="Black and White
Award"> WINNER
Your fantastic black and white picture is my winner!
Please add this photo to
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This is a black & white wonder! Please add it to

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Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

ZitaKamugira (more out than in) says:

Na
all the indian people in South America, have as religion the shamanism.
In Bahía more than 80% of the people is black. But when the slaves had arrive to Bahía, the only freinds they have , was the indian people. So , as the catolic pratices, the shamanism exist in the religion that is practice now, the Candomblé.
75% - african religion (that have too the great respect for the spirit of their ancestrals
15% - shamanism
10% - catolic churh
So, I live between spirits, they say. But who knows if its not a truth ???
long storys about.....
a big hug
Zita
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

JLMphoto says:

Amazing portrait -- beautifully captured.
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

NaPix -- Hmong Soul says:

Dear Zita, thanks so much for your insightful comments. How interesting.

I don’t think this is a good place to debate if spirits are true or not, but I can tell with certainty, that for my Hmong friends they are.

So as I spend more time with them, spirits become real to me too. Though I never saw one yet. When you see rituals such as burials, leading the dead to the next world, shamans in trance for 6 hours non stop, dancing on fire barefoot… The spirits become real with everyone surrounding you believing so strongly in them.

Maybe we can take lesson from Grandma Tina who wrote above: "We all drink from the river that is nearest, but all the rivers run into the same sea."
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

moonjazz says:

excellent photo and text combo, thanks

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Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

Christine Lebrasseur says:

Hi, I'm an admin for a group called ╠Art Libre-Free Art-Arte Libre-Freie Kunst-invited pix only, and we'd love to have your photo added to the group.

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Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

Belgikskenikske says:

Black & White Art Award
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

manatee.voyager says:

Congrats Na on Explore #477 17-03-2008
This is a face that has seen a lot and is so well captured. The B/W version seems to even more character to her face
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

Agus Ostolaza says:

Felicidades por tu explore.
saludos,
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

Denis Collette...!!! says:

Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Your Preferred Picture, and we'd love to have your photo added to the group.

Hi, I'm an admin for a group called " A Vision" /Please tag your photo "A Vision", and we'd love to have your photo added to the group.

Congratulations! Félicitation! Felicitazione! Felicidades! Felicitats! Glückwunsch! تهنئة 恭喜 Felicitação! Čestitke! Blahopřání! Gratulation! Felicitatie! Õnnitlus! Onnittelu! Συγχαρητήρια! כל הכבוד! Gratulálok! مبارکPowinszowanie! Felicitação! Честитке! Lyckönskningar! Поздравляю! Tebrikler! Поздравления! تبریک おめでとう Til lukku or til hamingju! GEFELICITEERD! Parabéns!

Art Attack...!!!
#427 on Explore my dear friend...!!!
Champagne... peanuts...chocolate... ice cream... !!! :)))

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Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

f/4 says:

Nice shot.
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

Grandma Tina says:

What I meant is that we are all one human race regardless of the traditions that we follow. Each tradition has truth for its followers because all are part of the whole. The larger meaning is too much for me to understand, but not too much for me to respect. Respecting that which we do not fully understand in other cultures is so important. I am a grandmother myself. If there were a translator present, that Hmong granny and I could have a good conversation about grandchildren and gardening. :-)
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

NaPix -- Hmong Soul says:

Grandma Tina... i could arrange the translator for you when you go. :)
Thanks for your comments.
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

pninaN says:

Amazing portrait!

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Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

ZitaKamugira (more out than in) says:

La sagesse
Grandma Tina knows, as me, as grandma Song.
I´m not crazy, I only am a Grandma too.
Why not to tell about this things of our world ???

"Deixa a vida me levar
Vida leva eu"

"Let the life to convey me
Life convey me" ( they say in a brasilian song ).

Kisses
Zita
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

ms.donnalee / donna cleveland says:

na --

i'll just put my 2 cents here:

I think that most so-called “primitive” or indigenous people are much closer to and aware of both the natural phenomena of the earth and the interplay of the spirit world with this one. They don’t have the distractions and mental obstacles that gross materialism and what passes for learning have brought to so-called “civilized” or “educated” people. I value my own extensive study of and experience with the “mysteries” far more than my college degrees. shamanism per se (especially the dark side of it) is no longer of much personal interest , even though I do share with a few shamans the insights that come from a long association with esoteric astrology….. i also think that shamanism can be as much of a trap and a con as any other "ism" ....... it depends much on the consciousness of the practioner....
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

musicman67 says:

Congratulations! You have received 5 or more awards from the
Black & White Art Awards group! This image is truly a B&W wonder!
Kindly post this image at Photographic Art Legacy - Invites Only!!
Once you post, please tag image with ArtLegacy
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

NaPix -- Hmong Soul says:

Wow… this discussion is getting serious.
My interest and passion is human nature… people. So now I’m learning from the Hmong by sharing time with them and observing. The Shaman I know well, Tra, his wife, kids and grandkids, are mostly close friends. I rarely see him acting as a Shaman. But rather, working the land, spending time with family, smoking, drinking, laughing, and preparing medicines, caring for his immediate neighbors. The Hmong are not so verbal, so trying to speak to him, through an interpreter, usually result with very little information. They believe that every person has several spirits and they guard them constantly from birth to death and beyond. Further they believe that objects, such as stones, trees, tools, a house, etc., as well as mountains and rivers all have a spirit.

You can read more here:
news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/20010 8/27_goetzk_...
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

FrizzText says:

Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Cultural Boxes, and we'd love to have your photo added to the group.

"We all drink from the river that is nearest, but all the rivers run into the same sea."
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

Austie1 says:

You, and your work, inspire me.

I think this photo is a

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Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

lorpailleur_62 says:

Superb !

Seen in The Flickr Portrait Gallery
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Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

Joebelle says:

Terrific portrait captures a lot of character
This world-class image was found in
Global Village 2 (post 1 - give a globe to 5)</
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

Chendur says:

lovely!
This world-class image was found in
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Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

Andre Peniche says:

This world-class image was found in
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Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

Sadbi Aziri -Tabi- says:

o big woooow and definitly a fave :) This world-class image was found in
Global Village 2 (post 1 - give a globe to 5)
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

jusacaseca (away and at school) says:

This world-class image was found in
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Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

amataiclaudius says:

This world-class image was found in
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Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

Amsterdamned! says:

When an unclean spirit is gone out of a woman, she walks through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. Then she says, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when she comes back, she finds it empty, swept, and garnished.
Then she goes, and takes with herself seven other spirits more bad natured than herself, and they enter in and dwell there:
and the last [state] of that woman is worse than the first :)
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

Q.M says:

This world-class image was found in
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Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

ClearlyLost says:

This world-class image was found in
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DevalJoshi says:

This world-class image was found in
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Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

risquillo says:

wwooowww
This world-class image was found in
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Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

Hongkiu says:

stunning portrait!

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Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

Dibujos de Molina says:

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HVargas says:

I love it...............Great Shot
Beautiful capture
lovely shot

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Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

fabio c. favaloro says:

Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Black & White - LIFE Shots! Photos from 5 Continents, and we'd love to have your photo added to the group.

Black & White Art Award
-----------------
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

skarain says:

This world-class image was found in
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Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

Juhani's_dreams says:

This world-class image was found in
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Fraggle Rockstar says:

This world-class image was found in
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Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

wendover says:

Very impressive portrait!
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

rgdaniel says:

Your out-of-this-world photo has become a legend in Global Village 2,
and has been awarded this Ticket to the Moon

Please join your fellow travellers in the Lunar Village,
and post this photo in the pool up there.
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

Bahman Farzad says:

you capture outstanding portraits. congrats.
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

ourigo says:

A superb portait. Congratulations.
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

laughingface2 says:

Wonderful work!
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

ds.adyren [deleted] says:

great portrait, so much expression, well done
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

Rolye says:

excellent portrait !!
well done !

Bravo !
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

Yilud says:

Excellent portrait! Well done!
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

mari's.. says:

so beautiful..
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

NaPix -- Hmong Soul says:

Thanks to Amseterdamned! for his 'scary' story, i'll better watch for it next time :) and to all of you, friends, contacts and new Flicker's buddies.
All you comments are sincerely appriciated.
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

MsYuri says:

This is a really nice b&w portrait!
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

edwardleger says:

Amazing portrait my friend.
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

miquelet says:

Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Blanc i Negre, and we'd love to have your photo added to the group.

;-) !
Posted 22 months ago. ( permalink )

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Taken in Lao Cai, VN (map)
Taken with a Sony DSC-R1.
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Taken on February 23, 2007
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