Kachinas are representative of three types of entities within the religion of the Zuni people. First, a Kachina is a spiritual ancestor who is a messenger to and from the gods. Second, a Kachina is a male dancer personifying these spirits. And third, a Kachina doll is carved as a secular representation of the spirits. No exact attribution can be made to a specific, known character, because Kachinas are so numerous and change so much over time that exact meanings and names of historical representations are often not known.
Religious ceremonies for the Zuni people revolve around the cyclical calendar of seasons. During winter, the invisible spirits of ancestors return to their villages as Kachina. Zuni men, who belong to secret societies, believe that they actually assume the powers and persona of Kachina spirits when they enter the village dressed with painted skins, furs, and clothes and wearing the appropriate mask. During this time, several different occasions are held to dance, chant, and pray to the gods, who are believed to live in the distant mountains. These important ceremonies ensure rains for the coming agricultural season but also help renew all life. The Zuni regard the life-size Kachina masks and clothing as sacred because of their religious, transformative powers.
Men, often a matrilineal uncle, carve Kachina dolls to give as gifts to young children during religious ceremonies. Since women cannot belong to the secret societies and become Kachina personifications and young boys are not members until they are initiated, these dolls help them learn about their religion. In the late 19th century, connoisseurs began to value and collect Kachina dolls as sculptural works of art, and Zuni artists began making additional dolls for sale.
Religious ceremonies for the Zuni people revolve around the cyclical calendar of seasons. During winter, the invisible spirits of ancestors return to their villages as Kachina. Zuni men, who belong to secret societies, believe that they actually assume the powers and persona of Kachina spirits when they enter the village dressed with painted skins, furs, and clothes and wearing the appropriate mask. During this time, several different occasions are held to dance, chant, and pray to the gods, who are believed to live in the distant mountains. These important ceremonies ensure rains for the coming agricultural season but also help renew all life. The Zuni regard the life-size Kachina masks and clothing as sacred because of their religious, transformative powers.
Men, often a matrilineal uncle, carve Kachina dolls to give as gifts to young children during religious ceremonies. Since women cannot belong to the secret societies and become Kachina personifications and young boys are not members until they are initiated, these dolls help them learn about their religion. In the late 19th century, connoisseurs began to value and collect Kachina dolls as sculptural works of art, and Zuni artists began making additional dolls for sale.
Edward Curtis' Navjo Zahadolzha Masker figure is a yebichai dancer representing the Navajo god Zahadolzha. Yebichai dancers are the link between our world and the spirit world. They performed in many traditional Navajo ceremonies, some of which lasted as long as nine days.
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