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In modern times, shibi culture has been preserved through master-prentice system. It takes 3 to 9 years for a prentice to become qualified Shibi. Masters are strict with prentices; while prentices will learn to perform various ceremonies like “Gai Gua”. “Gai Gua (also called ‘Jia Gua’ or ‘Chou Shi’)” refers to the graduation exam for the purpose of judging whether a prentice could become qualified Shibi. Dozens of famous Shibi will act as examiners and ask the prentices to recite part of scriptures and practice “Fa Shu (a kind of magic)”.
The core of Shibi culture symbolizes the spiritual support of the Qiang people and a kind of lifestyle. With rich connotation and profoundness, Shibi culture is regarded as spiritual and material wealth of the Qiang people. However, the danger today is that the primitive language spoken by the Qiang people may be assimilated to Mandarin and that there may be no enough successors in future to carry the torch of Shibi culture. It is really a pressing problem which deserves careful pondering.
By Yang Guozhen
Editor: Xu Xinlei
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