A ritual can be defined as the sequence of the activities that are involving gestures, objects, and words that are performed in the sequestered place and are done basing on a specific sequence. The rituals can be prescribed basing on the ethnicity of the community and whose characteristics are formalized, invariance, traditionalism, performance, and the sacral symbolism. Example of the rituals includes the firecracker and the fireworks that are performed in China. It’s done at every New Year where traditionally the loud noise sound of the firecracker served as a means of scaring away the evil spirits (Sally). The second is arranged marriage done in India where parents, relatives, friends, and friends of relatives are involved in the choice of the partner rather than selecting on your own (Yoririn). The third one is a celebration of “OBI” that is done in Japan. It entails tying a cotton belt in a woman’s abdomen to protect the baby.
In this paper I intend to use three different methodological approaches. The first one is reductionist which involves several inter-related philosophical ideas concerning the association of the phenomena that can describe the terms of the other simpler (Fogelin). Therefore this methodology will be applicable in China where I will study the ritual of the fireworks and the firecrackers. The second methodology is religionist who is the study of the religion. This approach is mainly devoted to the study of the religious behaviors, beliefs, institutions, etc. It interprets, compares, describes and also explain the religion basing its emphasis on the cross-cultural and historical perspectives. The approach will be essential in analyzing celebration of OBI in Japan. The last one is an anthropological approach which constitutes the study of the development of the religion and the phenomena of different cultures. The method will be essential in researching arranged marriage in India.
Works Cited
Fogelin, Lars. “Methodologies for the Archaeological Investigation of Religion and Ritual.” (2016): 1-6.
Sally, Gao. “Rituals and Customer to celebrate the chinese new year.” Chinese Traditions (2017).
Yoririn, K. “Japanese traditional rituals to give every child a happy life.” (2012): 39-86.
