kachina

Home > ... > Social Sciences and the Law > Anthropology and Archaeology > North American indigenous peoples, Religion > ...

kachina

The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition | 2008 | The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. Copyright 2008 Columbia University Press. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

kachina , spirit of the invisible life forces of the Pueblo of North America. The kachinas, or kachinam, are impersonated by elaborately costumed masked male members of the tribes who visit Pueblo villages the first half of the year. In a variety of ceremonies, they dance, sing, bring gifts to the children, and sometimes administer public scoldings. Although not worshiped, kachinas are greatly revered, and one of their main purposes is to bring rain for the spring crops. The term kachina also applies to cottonwood dolls made by the Hopi and Zuni that are exquisitely carved and dressed like the dancers. Originally intended to instruct the children about the hundreds of kachina spirits, the finer carvings have become collector's items. The name is also spelled katchina.

Hide all research tools
Print this article Print all entries for this topic Cite this article Link to this article
Link to this article

CloseClose

Create a link to this page

Copy and paste this link tag into your Web page or blog:

<a href="http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/.aspx#1E1-kachina" title="Facts and information about kachina">kachina</a>

Add this article to Del.icio.usBookmark this article on DiigoShare this article on FacebookSubmit this article to RedditGive this article a thumbs-up on StumbleUpon
Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

"kachina." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 17 Dec. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"kachina." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (December 17, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-kachina.html

"kachina." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Retrieved December 17, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-kachina.html

Learn more about citation styles

Kachinas

Myths and Legends of the World | 2001 | Copyright 2001, Gale Group. All rights reserved. Gale Group is a Thomson Corporation Company.. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

Kachinas

Spirits known as kachinas are central to the religion and mythology of the Pueblo Indians of the American Southwest, in particular the Hopi who live in Arizona. These groups believe that kachinas are divine spirits present in features of the natural world such as clouds, winds, thunder, and rain. They are also ancestral spirits that help connect humans with the spirit world.

Each Pueblo tribe and village has its own distinct kachinas. There may be more than 500 in total, and all are equally important. The Pueblos revere the kachinas and look to them for help, especially in bringing rain to water corn and other crops.

The kachinas dwell in sacred mountains and other sacred places. However, they spend half of each year living near Pueblo villages. During this time, the men of kachina cults perform traditional rituals linked with the presence of the spirits. They wear costumes and elaborate masks and perform songs and dances associated with specific kachinas. The Pueblos say that during these rituals each dancer is temporarily transformed into the spirit being represented.

Kachinas are also portrayed in elaborately carved wooden dolls adorned with the costumes and masks that identify them. The Hopi and other Pueblo peoples use these dolls to teach their children about the hundreds of different kachinas.

See also Corn; Kokopelli; Native American Mythology.

cult group bound together by devotion to a particular person, belief, or god

ritual ceremony that follows a set pattern

Hide all research tools
Print this article Print all entries for this topic Cite this article Link to this article
Link to this article

CloseClose

Create a link to this page

Copy and paste this link tag into your Web page or blog:

<a href="http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/.aspx#1G2-3490900286" title="Facts and information about kachina">kachina</a>

Add this article to Del.icio.usBookmark this article on DiigoShare this article on FacebookSubmit this article to RedditGive this article a thumbs-up on StumbleUpon
Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

"Kachinas." Myths and Legends of the World. Macmillan Reference, USA. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. 17 Dec. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"Kachinas." Myths and Legends of the World. Macmillan Reference, USA. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. (December 17, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3490900286.html

"Kachinas." Myths and Legends of the World. Macmillan Reference, USA. 2001. Retrieved December 17, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3490900286.html

Learn more about citation styles

Facts and information from other sites

Related topics

  Edit this list

Related articles from newspapers, magazines, and more

THE MYSTERY OF KACHINA.(POSTEXTRA)
Newspaper article from: The Kentucky Post (Covington, KY); 1/31/1996; ; 700+ words ; ...if he'd withdrawn himself from the kachina market for good. But the experience...Today Jim Kelly is one of the region's kachina experts. Until now, Kelly hasn't had many local inquiries for kachina information. But he may start fielding...
Kachina carving
Magazine article from: Southwest Art; 8/1/2000; ; 700+ words ; ...of age when he was initiated into the kachina society, learning from his grandfather...certain parameters. For one, he believes kachina makers should speak Hopi since that is...know the true spiritual intent of the kachina. Kachina dolls should also not be sold...
Kachina Communications Chooses Lightspeed Systems for Wireless Traffic Prioritization.
Business Wire; 9/25/2000; 700+ words ; ...Windows 2000 networking, today announced that Kachina Communications, Inc. has selected its QoS...Business to prioritize wireless traffic on Kachina's SWIFT Wireless Internet access network. Kachina, a leader in wireless technology, operates...
PRINCE PROPER EYES KACHINA EAGLE FOR STARTERS
Newspaper article from: The Boston Globe; 7/11/1987; ; 700+ words ; ...chance to accomplish that feat just may be Kachina Eagle, a converted sprinter with high early...said, "Prince Proper may have to catch Kachina Eagle." "He uttered the truth," said Kachina Eagle's trainer, Mike Greco. "My dog...
FIRST CANADIAN AMERICAN HOLDING CORPORATION Announces Kachina Gold Corporation Progress on Development of Mohave County, AZ Gold Operations.
M2 Presswire; 10/28/2005; 700+ words ; ...AMERICAN HOLDING CORPORATION Announces Kachina Gold Corporation Progress on Development...Pink Sheets: FCDH) announces today that Kachina Gold Corporation (Pink Sheets:KCHG...its Mohave County, Arizona property. Kachina has already undertaken production at this...
Hopi Indians use wooden kachina dolls to honor ancestral spirits.
Newspaper article from: Akron Beacon Journal (Akron, OH); 7/28/2005; 700+ words ; ...leave at the end of the Festival of Niman Kachina, also called the Going Away of the Gods...arrival last winter. During the Niman Kachina Festival, masked dancers, who represent...making small wooden figures to represent kachina spirits that they present to female children...
Market Gainer Begins Profile on Kachina Gold Corporation.
M2 Presswire; 11/2/2005; 700+ words ; ...com: Market Gainer Begins Profile on Kachina Gold Corporation(C)1994-2005 M2...following company based on these criteria. Kachina Gold (OTCPK:KCHG), is a new entrant...producing region of Mohave County, Arizona. Kachina's claims were heavy producers over 70...
Cultural connection ; An exhibit of Kachina dolls, revered by the Hopi Indians, is on display at a Kennebunkport gallery
Newspaper article from: Portland Press Herald (Maine); 6/12/2003; ; 700+ words ; ...2003 Cultural connection ; An exhibit of Kachina dolls, revered by the Hopi Indians...action poses." Some of the traditional Kachina dolls have feathers surrounding their...book covers all the basics of traditional Kachina dolls, including what to look for when...
Fake kachina dolls an affront to religion, Hopis charge. (Originated from Arizona Republic)
Newspaper article from: Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service; 1/26/1994; ; 700+ words ; ...Sakwahote, or Blue Warrior. Like most Hopi kachina carvers, Poley puts days of thought into...intricately carved, 18-inch-high kachina, which eventually will retail for about...Gov. Fife Symington has a large, fake kachina in his office, said Loris Minkler, a...
Kachina dolls.(third grade art lesson)
Magazine article from: School Arts; 4/1/1995; ; 700+ words ; ...of all things in the world. During the Kachina Season, which begins in December and...men also carve wooden replicas of the kachina they represent out of the root of the...learn to identify the attributes of each kachina. I had a hunch the rich symbolism, bright...
Click to see an enlarged picture
kachina. (Image by Grombo, GFDL)

For students and teachers!

Encyclopedia.com provides students and teachers facts, information, and biographies from verified, citable sources, including:

Encyclopedia.com provides students and teachers facts, information, and biographies from verified, citable sources, including:

Popular on Newser:

Elin Quitting Tiger For Kids' Sake: Pal

(12/17/2009 4:55:05 PM)

Maybe Tiger's Had a PR Plan All Along

(12/17/2009 4:39:02 PM)

10 Worst Office Phrases

(12/17/2009 1:22:00 AM)

Tiger Woods Linked to... Jessica Simpson?

(12/16/2009 4:45:01 PM)

Woman Hit by Car— After Flashing Drivers

(12/17/2009 7:11:01 PM)