*6.4. The Final Sai*

The final *sai* started after a lunch break with 'Offering Three Cups', which followed the same procedure and pattern as performed in the initial *sai*, with group skits presented in between. Next came a *nuo*-exorcism ritual called 'Rinsing Off Plagues' (*chongwen* 沖 瘟). This ritual was fairly simple in form but quite engaging. In the beginning, a miniature 'plague boat' (*wenchuan* 瘟 船) made of paper was brought in and placed on firewood in front of the Incense Pavilion. Then, the Chief Master of Ceremonials recited 'the Writ of Exorcising Evil Spirits' (*Quxie wen* 驅 邪 文). While he was reciting the text, a ritual attendant set fire to the paper boat under the watchful eye of the Chief Master of Ceremonials. After that, a boy and a girl, about five or six years old, were brought in by their respective fathers. With their child held firmly on the chest, they jumped over the flaming boat in the presence of a large crowd of spectators, who reacted with a hearty round of applause. The ritual of 'Rinsing Off Plagues' is an ancient form of *nuo* exorcism performed during the temple festival to cleanse the community of evil spirits and epidemic diseases, and this is also the case with *Dancing Jianzhai* and *A Monkey Extracted from Its Shell*, both of which are key pieces in the repertoire of local Nuo theatre (*nuoxi* 儺 戲) (Du 2016).

The final *sai* then proceeded to 'Beating the Drum of the Supreme Peace' (*da taipinggu* 打太 平 鼓), which was presented in front of the Incense Pavilion by a troupe of drummers from the Assembly of Eight Sounds to pray for peace and prosperity. Following the drum music was 'Offering Sacrifices to the Wind' (*jifeng* 祭 風), which was performed in each of the four corners of the village, starting clockwise from the eastern corner. The ritual involved erecting an altar (Figure 56), offering incense, kowtowing and reciting sacrificial texts (*jiwen* 祭 文) (Figure 57).

Among the various ritual, musical and theatrical performances for the final *sai*, the most important is 'Seeing Off the Deities According to Their Wishes' (*Songshen dacai* 送 神 打 彩).<sup>51</sup> Similar to 'Inviting the Deities' and 'Welcoming the Deities', 'Seeing Off the Deities' is a grand procession, in which the gods and goddesses are carried in their sedan chairs, divine carriages or spirit tablets back to their own temples or shrines. Shortly after returning from offering sacrifices to the North Wind, the Chief Master of Ceremonials took a bunch of burning incense sticks from an Incense Master, inserted it in the burner in front of the Incense Pavilion, knelt down and kowtowed three times together with the three other ritual leaders. He then rose to his feet to chant the 'Writ of Seeing Off the Deities' (*Songshen wen* 送 神 文), which contained a long list of the invited deities and of the divine blessings the local community had received from them (Figure 58). Following the chanting of the ritual text was 'Offering Three Cups'. A village elder was invited to say prayers of grateful thanks to the goddess and her invited deities (Figure 59).

**Figure 56.** An Altar Is Set Up for the Ritual of Offering Sacrifices to Wind.

Wang Jinzhi then led all Entertainers from the Assembly of Eight Sounds to perform a music and dance to honour the gods and goddess, and after that, they walked up one by one to make a deep obeisance in thanksgiving for their divine grace. With the (sedan chairs, divine carriages and spirit tablets of) invited deities being carried back to their home shrines and temples, the final *sai* came to an end.

**Figure 57.** Offering Sacrifices to Wind.

**Figure 58.** The Chief Master of Ceremonials Chants the 'Writ of Seeing Off Deities'.

**Figure 59.** Village Elder Kneels Down to Kowtow.
