Conjuring spirits of baskets is a folk game inherited in
many Southeast Asian cultures. While the Chinese call it “the immortal of
baskets” (菜篮仙), the
Malaysian and Indonesian call it “Jailangkung”. Such game was once popular in
villages and before the advent of electronic gadgets. We can occasionally come
across people make use of this folk game to perform divination and also to ask
for lucky numbers.
It is not difficult to conjure spirit of a basket but we
will first need to make the effigy of the spirit and dress it first as shown
above. When the effigy is assembled, the game can be started after dark
normally after dinner. We will need 3 players. In old days, we will need two
young girls holding the hands of the effigy and a third person as the conjuror.
The conjuror will stand in front of the effigy holding 3
pieces of burning incense sticks. While swinging the incenses to and fro, the
person must chant the below mantra repeatedly until the effigy moves by a mystical
force:
“菜篮仙，菜篮神，菜篮请你来上身。一呼请，二呼请，三呼请，呼请菜篮神仙来上身。上身坐乩真灵应，诚心请神降来临，急急如律令。”
“Immortal of basket,
god of basket, I invoke the basket to possess. I call once, twice and thrice,
calling the god to possess me. Possess me and do wonders. I invoke you
sincerely. As my will, so mote it be!”
Now that the spirit has arrived, interested parties can
start asking what they want to know including lucky number picks of course. When
the service of basket spirit is no longer desired, then it should be sent off
by simply saying:
“祈请菜篮神仙退神归位！”
“I request the basket god to return to where you belonged.”
After the basket spirit is dismissed, the effigy should be
stored in a quiet corner to be used later. Only when the service of basket
spirit is no longer needed and the effigy is to be dismantled, then it is
appropriate to prepare some food offerings and burn some incense to thank the
spirit.
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