琉球神道
, or "spirit", is a key concept in Ryukyuan religion. Mabui is the essence of the [[self (psychology)|self]], somewhat like the [[soul]] and somewhat like [[mana]]. Just as the soul in many traditions is immortal, so is mabui; also like the soul, one's mabui is one's defining characteristic, unique to the individual. The mabui of a dead person may cling to a living person, requiring a ritual of separation ("mabui-wakashi") or a conveyance from the place of death to a proper resting place ("suukaa"). In a case of sudden death, an especially complicated ritual takes place in order to separate the mabui from where it is clinging (as though it still lived) and move it to where it can find rest.