Product Information
Beckwith examines the culture and folklore surrounding the Kumulipo, the Hawaiian creation chant which vividly narrates the creation of the world and the first humans. The Kumulipo is rich in references to other creation lore of Hawaii, invoking its Gods and rituals, and the society and culture of the Hawaiian Islands. Before she proceeds to translate and narrate the actual text, Martha Warren Beckwith begins this book with a description of Hawaiian life. Its hierarchical culture; the customs and taboos surrounding first-born males of the chieftains; and the dynastic lineages which presided over Honolulu, with the monarchs responsible for uniting the biggest isle with those around it. The result was a relatively homogenous culture, with a unified mythology and belief system. By the time Western visitors reached Hawaii and began to transcribe its mythos in the 18th century, it was essentially a single culture. The chant of the Kumulipo represents not only a summation of the mythologies and creation lore of the Hawaiian isles, but also the unification of its people. We explore notions of how the lands, seas and first peoples were made, the mighty creatures of antiquity, and concepts like the serene stillness of nature forming the conditions for Gods and men to enter existence.Product Identifiers
PublisherPantianos Classics
ISBN-139781789872163
eBay Product ID (ePID)2317597321
Product Key Features
SubjectMythology
Publication Year1951
Number of Pages180 Pages
Publication NameThe Kumulipo: a Hawaiian Creation Chant-A History of the Mythology, Folklore and Gods of Polynesia
LanguageEnglish
TypeTextbook
AuthorMartha Warren Beckwith
FormatPaperback
Dimensions
Item Height229 mm
Item Weight272 g
Additional Product Features
Title_AuthorMartha Warren Beckwith
TopicLiterature, Religious History, Literary Theory