Spiritual and Practical: Rice Cycle Rituals in Ifugao

Archaeologist Stephen Acabado talks about how Ifugao rice rituals serve both spiritual and practical purposes. They mark each stage of the rice cycle, coordinating labor, preventing conflict, and maintaining harmony in the landscape. Guided by the Tumonak or ritual leader, this system reflects how culture and ecology work together to sustain the Ifugao community and its rice terraces.

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  • Stephen Acabado close up on face, wearing glasses and smiling, with bright foliage in the background

    Stephen

    Acabado

    Professor, Department of Anthropology at University of California, Los Angeles