RESEARCH DATA:

A bu’lul is a carved wooden anthropomorphic figure used by the Ifugao for various purposes, such as the protection of the harvested rice. The highly stylized ancestor images in the sculptures are believed to derive their strength from the ancestral spirit's presence. The Ifugao people are renowned for their proficiency at carving bu’lul used in rituals related to the cultivation of rice, healing and thanksgiving. A mumbaki (ritual specialist) must perform the alwen bulul ritual when creating a bu’lul in order to guarantee that the statue acquires power. In order to reduce the possibility that the spirits of the ancestors may bring illness, the bu’lul is handled with respect and care. To ensure a bountiful crop, these figures are traditionally placed inside rice granaries. A pair of bu'lul statues typically guard large granaries, while the wealthy may also have one or more bu'lul figures displayed within their homes.