The Story of Siv Yis

The first Hmong shaman was Siv Yis. Because there was so much sickness and death on Earth, it was said that the heavens sent Siv Yis to heal people and to defeat Dab Ntswg Nyoog (King of the Underworld). Siv Yis traveled near and far, all around the world and even the heavens to heal people. He even healed the Gods. Siv Yis was gone months at a time and barely had time at home to raise his son, Leej Nkaub.

After years of traveling the world and healing the sick, he finally returned home. When he returned home, he discovered that his son had died at the hands of Dab Ntswg Nyoog. He was furious. He went straight to heaven and asked for the return of his son. He was going to raise his son back from the dead. The animals of the land heard of what Siv Yis was going to do and so a mother pig approached Siv Yis.

The mother pig said, "Siv Yis, you sacrificed my child in a ritual to heal the neighbor's dying son. If you want to bring your son back from the dead, then you must bring mine back as well." The animals of the land agreed with the mother pig and took Siv Yis to the Heaven's Court. If Siv Yis were to bring back his son from the dead, he must also bring back all the animals that he sacrificed. Angered by this impossible deal, he threw all his shaman tools down to Earth. Siv Yis shouted with anger,

"I do not want to be a shaman any longer, for I have failed to save my own son. Anyone who receives the gift of my shaman tools will gain the power of a shaman but will know the pain of being gone from their family. They will not be home and never know free time with their loved ones!"

Individuals who are Hmong shamans are said to come from a family line who is a direct descendant of those who found Siv Yis's shaman tools. It is believed today that because of Siv Yis's last words, Hmong shaman's today experience great pain before becoming a shaman. Once a shaman, they will continue to spend time healing people and less time with their own families, as Siv Yis did. Even today, most shamans still use Siv Yis's name when performing a ritual to access the power and strength that he once possessed.