Rice Heritage


Rice: The Grain That Shapes Cultures, Traditions and Rituals


Over the centuries, rice has sculpted the culture of Asia. It is the grain that links Heaven and Earth, mortals and gods. Wherever the crop has been planted, festivals, traditions, rituals, and languages celebrate its importance. Even for those for whom rice is an everyday sight, something magical—spiritual—still radiates from the depths of the green fields.

Across Asia, the rice spirit is nearly always female—and is often thought of as a mother figure. The notable exception, however, is in the Philippines, where the gods are almost all males.

Explore the rich, fascinating Cultural Heritage of rice—and take a peak at the Rice Gallery. You’ll learn something about yourself and your ancestors.