"Once upon a time, I, Chuang Chou, dreamt I was a butterfly, fluttering hither and thither, to all intents and purposes a butterfly. I was conscious only of my happiness as a butterfly, unaware that I was Chou. Soon I awaked, and there I was, veritably myself again. Now I do not know whether I was then a man dreaming I was a butterfly, or whether I am now a butterfly, dreaming I am a man." -- Zhuangzi
Thursday, September 29, 2011
The Travelers
In last week's post I introduced the native-american Hopi culture. The Hopi are a native-american people who currently live in the "four-corners" area of the United States (principally in Arizona). After talking just a bit with my sister who has done some research and has an interest in the Hopi, I also decided that I would like to learn more. I drove over to her house in American Fork and borrowed her copy of Book of the Hopi by Frank Walters which i mentioned last week. This past week I have been reading it and have learned a lot about the oral tradition of the Hopi people.
This is the emergence symbol. It symbolizes Mother Earth and her enveloping arms.
I will try to briefly summarize the basic oral history of the Hopi here. Basically, under the direction of the supreme Creator, Taiowa, his nephew, Sótuknang, and the Spider Woman created various worlds. Humans were then placed lived in the First World. When the people that lived there became corrupt and stopped living up to the purpose of their creation, the First World was destroyed by fire and only those who had kept the "door on the top of their heads" open were saved by entering a kiva and living with the ant people while the Second World was created. (The "door" is the soft spot that babies have and is symbolic of being spiritually in tune with with Sótuknang because it is the path of spiritual communication with him.)
The First People emerged to the Second World, but that world went the same course as the first and was destroyed by ice. Those who had kept their "doors" open were led then to the Third World, which was also eventually destroyed by water. This time, those who remembered the plan of Creation were saved by making small wooden capsules and floating across the great ocean. They came from the East and after a long journey landed here on this continent or the Fourth World. Here, the people were told that they were not to settle down wherever they wanted, instead they must make a journey to the North, South, East, and West before returning to their correct place and settling down.
Spirals (like those seen here) are often symbolic of the number of trips a clan had already completed when they were drawn.
These journeys lasted hundreds of years and many different clans made different separate journeys. When the clans returned to Oraibi (their ultimate settling place) they joined together. Some clans had more power and influence than others because of their powers. Each clan contributed its specific powers to the rituals and ceremonial cycle that takes place each year in order to keep in tune with the purpose of Creation and to control the elements and make life possible in the desert. If you want to read a wonderful, more detailed account of their beliefs check out THIS powerpoint. (beware: it takes a while to load. the first part is their oral history the rest is recent history)
This is the Eagle Dance. One of many of the ritualistic Hopi dances.
So that was a watered down version of Hopi legend. I wanted to recount the Hopi beliefs though so that I could connect it to some of interesting facts about oral learning. All of this story has been passed down orally since (supposedly) the beginning of time. Only very recently was it written down in collaboration with elders of the Hopi tribe. During the ceremonies that happen throughout the year, these stories, myths, and legends are taught (and acted out) by the elders in each clan to the people so that they can remember the lessons that the stories teach.
Although the history is highly interesting, symbolic, and meaningful to the Hopi, it not recognized by historians as highly accurate. For example, because of symbols and writings written in their ruins, the Hopi believe that the Maya are just one of the many clans that got lost in their journeys and settled in Mexico. On the other hand most historians believe that the Hopi are descendants of one of the many central american people and not their ancestors.
Three symbols for the Blue Flute clan, Gray Flute clan, and the Spirit or Kachina. Found all over the western United States and Northern Mexico.
The symbols of the Hopi are also found in all parts of the continent, and, while we don't know with certainty, many of them probably were left there during the travels of Hopi clans. These drawings and their symbols helped the people to remember the stories and maintain the integrity of an oral history that has lasted so long. Along with their spiritual significance to the Hopi, they are evidence to the veracity of the oral stories. I think that with oral traditions, maybe the purpose isn't as much sticking to historical facts (as in writing history) as it is developing stories in order to structure a culture and identity for the people.
I agree that the purpose of oral and written information is different. It seems that most orally transmitted information is fairly didactic and is more interested in teaching us what we should be and do more than what we should know. The Hopi myth emphasizes the need to keep our connection to the divine open and to not lose our way even when there are lots of interesting things in the world to distract us before we make it to our ultimate dwelling place. I find this more interesting than my genetics and evolution courses which chronicle exact facts of migration of peoples and the rise of man.
I like Alicia's comment about how oral tradition, especially in this case, seems to teach us more of what we should be and do. I think oral tradition has more of a purpose for passing on knowledge. It's to help people better themselves as individuals and passes along the struggles, successes of a civilization/culture on a more personable level.
This was really interesting, Mike. It all really appeals to the Chaco-wearing hippie in me. I like what Alicia said about the Hopi tradition placing some degree of importance upon the idea of keeping the connection to the divine open and using it to help us make it to our final destination--I think in some sense, this might be one part of what oral knowledge is all about--keeping some kind of connection open. The connection between parent and child, the connection between storyteller and listener--kept alive when you retell the story, out loud, again.
I like your last conclusion Mike, that oral tradition fundamentally differs in its purpose from written tradition. It definitely helps keep connections open, like other group members have said, and I think that is due to the more social nature of oral tellings. But I think it is true that oral tradition is more focused on building a community and culture than reporting fact, where written tradition tends to do the opposite. I mean, as a nation, a people, we are less proud of our amazing dictionaries and textbooks than of our great storytellers and actors and artists. They are just different, yet both important, aspects of learning and culture.
I agree that the purpose of oral and written information is different. It seems that most orally transmitted information is fairly didactic and is more interested in teaching us what we should be and do more than what we should know. The Hopi myth emphasizes the need to keep our connection to the divine open and to not lose our way even when there are lots of interesting things in the world to distract us before we make it to our ultimate dwelling place. I find this more interesting than my genetics and evolution courses which chronicle exact facts of migration of peoples and the rise of man.
ReplyDeleteI like Alicia's comment about how oral tradition, especially in this case, seems to teach us more of what we should be and do. I think oral tradition has more of a purpose for passing on knowledge. It's to help people better themselves as individuals and passes along the struggles, successes of a civilization/culture on a more personable level.
ReplyDeleteThis was really interesting, Mike. It all really appeals to the Chaco-wearing hippie in me. I like what Alicia said about the Hopi tradition placing some degree of importance upon the idea of keeping the connection to the divine open and using it to help us make it to our final destination--I think in some sense, this might be one part of what oral knowledge is all about--keeping some kind of connection open. The connection between parent and child, the connection between storyteller and listener--kept alive when you retell the story, out loud, again.
ReplyDeleteI like your last conclusion Mike, that oral tradition fundamentally differs in its purpose from written tradition. It definitely helps keep connections open, like other group members have said, and I think that is due to the more social nature of oral tellings. But I think it is true that oral tradition is more focused on building a community and culture than reporting fact, where written tradition tends to do the opposite. I mean, as a nation, a people, we are less proud of our amazing dictionaries and textbooks than of our great storytellers and actors and artists. They are just different, yet both important, aspects of learning and culture.
ReplyDelete