A Study of the Relationship Between the Primitive Religious Beliefs at Getou Village and Customary law

The customary law at Getou Village derives and evolves from the customary law of the Miao nationality. A lot of norms in the primitive religious beliefs of the Miao nationality, e.g. the worship of the village’s tree saint, the daily-life taboos, and so on, are within the customary law and play a role in the form of religious taboos. Local norms and provisions (called Langgui) are made in the process of “Yilang,” a ritual held to ask gods to help with the implementation of the customary law. The mysterious strength of the religion serves as an important authority to ensure the execution of the customary law.