Siv Yis (Shee Yee — First Hmong Shaman)
Siv Yis (also spelled Shee Yee or Siv Yig) is the legendary first shaman in Hmong mythology who received shamanic power from the spirit world and taught it to humanity. According to the Hmong creation myth, in ancient times the evil spirit Ntxwj Nyog (Ndu Nyong) brought sickness and death to humanity. The high god Yawm Saub (Yer Shau) sent Siv Yis down to earth to combat Ntxwj Nyog and retrieve stolen souls. Siv Yis learned the sacred rituals, chants, and healing practices from the spirits — how to beat the drum to call spirits, swing the rattle bells (nyiaj cuam) to open gates between worlds,