Đạo Mẫu Tứ Phủ: The Indigenous Vietnamese Mother-Goddesses Healing Tradition

Abstract

The goal of this study is to present an ethnographic and depth psychological understanding of the Đạo Mẫu Tứ Phủ, Mother-Goddesses tradition, which is Indigenous to the Việt/Kinh ethnic majority group originating from the Red River Delta of modern- day Northern Việt Nam, considered the cradle of Việt/Kinh civilization and the holy land of Đạo Mẫu Tứ Phủ practice tradition. The participants of the study are adherents and stakeholders of the healing rituals and practices of this spiritual belief system. The focus of this research is to gain depth psychological understanding of the psychoculturalspiritual mechanisms of ancestral and shamanic-like healing at work within this ancient practice. The study aims to create a dialogue between Đạo Mẫu Tứ Phủ and Western depth psychology. This dissertation includes an introduction for the depth psychological audience to the ethnic religion of the majority ethnic group of Việt Nam, which includes mediumship practice, shamanic-like ritual ceremonies, and a musical and sung oral tradition that depicts the historic and mythic lives of channeled deities.