soul; spirit; departed soul; ghost​

During funerals, the procession carries a long vertical flag with a name of the dead written. Once it was believed the flag has a strong power to bring health and fertility. After funeral people fought to get one to wrap around hips; both men and women hoped to stay healthy and have many children. Nowadays no one cares about the flags nor believes in their powers. Besides one person. He collects all the flags each year and sticks them in the middle of his rice field. He believes the dead owners of the flags come back through them and help his rice grow tasty and aplenty. After every funeral one more flag waves above his ricefield reminding an old forgotten belief in powerful capabilities of departed souls.