Hawaiian Mythology
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Book Overview
Ku and Hina-man andwoman-were the great ancestral gods of heaven and earth for the ancientHawaiians. They were life's fruitfulness and all the generations of mankind, both those who are to come and those already born.
The Hawaiian gods werelike great chiefs from far lands who visited among the people, entering their dailylives sometimes as humans or animals, sometimes taking residence in a stone orwooden idol. As years passed, the families of gods grew and included thetrickster Maui, who snared the sun, and fiery Pele of the volcano. Ancient Hawaiian lived bythe animistic philosophy that assigned living souls to animals, trees, stones, stars, and clouds, as well as to humans. Religion and mythology were interwovenin Hawaiian culture; and local legends and genealogies were preserved in song, chant, and narrative. Martha Beckwith was thefirst scholar to chart a path through the hundreds of books, articles, andlittle-known manuscripts that recorded the oral narratives of the Hawaiianpeople. Her book has become a classic work of folklore and ethnology, and thedefinitive treatment of Hawaiian mythology. With an introduction by Katherine Luomala.Format:Paperback
Language:English
ISBN:B00A2Q0S86
ISBN13:9780824805142
Release Date:June 1982
Publisher:University of Hawaii Press
Length:608 Pages
Weight:1.82 lbs.
Dimensions:1.4" x 6.0" x 9.1"
Customer Reviews
3 ratings
Hawaiian Myths
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 14 years ago
Thanx for the book. I find it so intriguing that all world history (namely, religious) is 1 & the same. Of course, every country having thier own spins. It's just a question to what degree.
Informative and Insightful
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 22 years ago
This is a great book for delving into the myths, gods, legend and lore of Hawaii's people. For anyone interested in the deeper levels and meanings behind Hawaii's traditions and beliefs. As a student of the culture I return again and again to this book. It can be a bit dry at times, and is suited more for the student than casual reader, but is a great addition to any library.
Hawaiian Mythology
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 24 years ago
This is a very thorough and interesting book about the ancient Hawaiian myths. Martha Beckwith's book Hawaiian Mythology leaves no stone unturned when it comes to an extremely comprehensive look at the myths that have been passed down by the Hawaiians for hundreds of years. It tells adventurous tales of deities and those who were in their favor, romantic accounts of Gods and mortals, and incredible feets of the strong,the stuff of legend. It is truly an incredible account of history and myth.
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