登陆注册
15516900000011

第11章 III(4)

It is probable that the creature chosen was the traditional ancestress, as we are told that the First Man had many wives among the animal people. The sacred beast, bird, or reptile, represented by its stuffed skin, or by a rude painting, was treated with reverence and carried into battle to insure the guardianship of the spirits. The symbolic attribute of beaver, bear, or tortoise, such as wisdom, cunning, courage, and the like, was supposed to be mysteriously conferred upon the wearer of the badge. The totem or charm used in medicine was ordinarily that of the medicine lodge to which the practitioner belonged, though there were some great men who boasted a special revelation.

There are two ceremonial usages which, so far as I have been able to ascertain, were universal among American Indians, and apparently fundamental. These have already been referred to as the "eneepee," or vapor-bath, and the "chan-du-hu-pah-yu-za-pee," or ceremonial of the pipe. In our Siouan legends and traditions these two are preeminent, as handed down from the most ancient time and persisting to the last.

In our Creation myth or story of the First Man, the vapor-bath was the magic used by The-one-who-was-First-Created, to give life to the dead bones of his younger brother, who had been slain by the monsters of the deep. Upon the shore of the Great Water he dug two round holes, over one of which he built a low enclosure of fragrant cedar boughs, and here he gathered together the bones of his brother. In the other pit he made a fire and heated four round stones, which he rolled one by one into the lodge of boughs.

Having closed every aperture save one, he sang a mystic chant while he thrust in his arm and sprinkled water upon the stones with a bunch of sage. Immediately steam arose, and as the legend says, "there was an appearance of life." A second time he sprinkled water, and the dry bones rattled together. The third time he seemed to hear soft singing from within the lodge; and the fourth time a voice exclaimed: "Brother, let me out!" (It should be noted that the number four is the magic or sacred number of the Indian.)

This story gives the traditional origin of the "eneepee," which has ever since been deemed essential to the Indian's effort to purify and recreate his spirit. It is used both by the doctor and by his patient. Every man must enter the cleansing bath and take the cold plunge which follows, when preparing for any spiritual crisis, for possible death, or imminent danger.

Not only the "eneepee" itself, but everything used in connection with the mysterious event, the aromatic cedar and sage, the water, and especially the water-worn boulders, are regarded as sacred, or at the least adapted to a spiritual use. For the rock we have a special reverent name--"Tunkan," a contraction of the Sioux word for Grandfather.

The natural boulder enters into many of our solemn ceremonials, such as the "Rain Dance," and the "Feast of Virgins." The lone hunter and warrior reverently holds up his filled pipe to "Tunkan," in solitary commemoration of a miracle which to him is as authentic and holy as the raising of Lazarus to the devout Christian.

There is a legend that the First Man fell sick, and was taught by his Elder Brother the ceremonial use of the pipe, in a prayer to the spirits for ease and relief. This simple ceremony is the commonest daily expression of thanks or "grace," as well as an oath of loyalty and good faith when the warrior goes forth upon some perilous enterprise, and it enters even into his "hambeday," or solitary prayer, ascending as a rising vapor or incense to the Father of Spirits.

In all the war ceremonies and in medicine a special pipe is used, but at home or on the hunt the warrior employs his own. The pulverized weed is mixed with aromatic bark of the red willow, and pressed lightly into the bowl of the long stone pipe. The worshiper lights it gravely and takes a whiff or two; then, standing erect, he holds it silently toward the Sun, our father, and toward the earth, our mother. There are modern variations, as holding the pipe to the Four Winds, the Fire, Water, Rock, and other elements or objects of reverence.

There are many religious festivals which are local and special in character, embodying a prayer for success in hunting or warfare, or for rain and bountiful harvests, but these two are the sacraments of our religion. For baptism we substitute the "eneepee," the purification by vapor, and in our holy communion we partake of the soothing incense of tobacco in the stead of bread and wine.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 魅王追妻:萌萌小野妃

    魅王追妻:萌萌小野妃

    重生到语言贫乏、生活拮据的古代,容华依然喜欢做包子,活的自在潇洒。哎呀,这公子好生俊朗啊。“哎,你带着我吧,我做的包子可是天下第一,哎,你长的好高哇,哎,你发带要松掉了,哎,你靴子有土,哎,等等我行吗……”霍郡侯冷着俊脸:“你在啰嗦,我就把你倒挂在马背上。”容华嘿嘿一笑:“好呀好呀,只要上你的马背,正倒不是事儿。”霍郡侯还是冷脸:“上了我的马背,我就不允许你后悔。”“行,那你要看紧我啊。”霍郡侯露出前所未有宠溺的笑容,接过她的纤纤玉手扯上了自己的坐骑。“搂紧比看紧好用多了,驾。”“啊...救命啊,你个腹黑冷面男。”
  • 羊太岁

    羊太岁

    武侠、言情、穿越、玄幻、谋略。作品极具想象力,堪称思维训练教科书。创作技法贯通今古,情节文字同步穿越!
  • 柠檬味青春:高中生活好短暂

    柠檬味青春:高中生活好短暂

    临近中考,黎皓轩却意外生病,慕柠希情不自禁的关心他,照顾他······渐渐擦出火花,才发现,其实那个调皮捣蛋的男孩也不是那么讨厌。中考过后,一股股黑烟仿佛一直阻碍着我们,将我们之间的隔阂拉的越来越远。究竟结局会如何?若高中三年过去了,我们进入了两所不一样的大学,你是否还会记得我······
  • 异戒魔君

    异戒魔君

    一枚奇异的戒指,一个强大的灵魂,一个全新的人生。刃山穿越到“魔种”身上,在发掘戒指中的奥秘、找寻父亲的同时,毅然踏上了追求武道巅峰的道路。功夫不够,诡计来凑!这一世,他决意要在这斗气世界中纵横四海,快意恩仇,逍遥自在,笑傲天下!
  • 审判之神的低语

    审判之神的低语

    一切的阴谋都汇集到了阿加雷斯在诸神黄昏战役前的那个预言,面对一一个个死去的伙伴和正在毁灭的世界,最强泰坦神明哈迪斯到底该如何面对?当审判降临,是生存还是信仰?
  • 我只是一名塔罗师

    我只是一名塔罗师

    本文以女主角——董小洁是一名流浪在人群中的低调占卜师,故事的起因是表姐出国前赠与了女主角一副有牌灵的塔罗牌,女主由于机缘巧合卷入了刑事纠纷当中决定用自己的特殊能力为自己伸冤之后被武警官发现了女主的不同,历经了一次又一次的灵异历程,弘扬正义,惩恶扬善。文中涉及了塔罗、星座、数字学等神秘学相关知识让读者可以更好的了解到多数人不太了解的玄秘世界。
  • 一品贵女两生花

    一品贵女两生花

    本为金枝玉叶的公主,因战火颠沛流离,流落成为顾家的婢女。身世揭开之时以为可以苦尽甘来,却不知亲父被诛,皇叔登位,自己的公主身份更被顾家小姐冒充,未婚夫婿将自己手脚筋打断,毁去容貌和眼睛。一朝得以重生,她发誓绝不放过欺辱过她的任何一人。本一心报仇无缘其他,却不小心卷入了朝堂的诡谲莫测中,自此爱恨情仇似乎一窝蜂的加注在她的身上。曾经的未婚夫表白对公主无意,她才是自己的真爱。太子哥哥表示最依赖的人就是她。还有个似乎是修炼千年的扫把星下凡,每次碰到绝无好事,冤家路窄闹得天崩地裂。这种人本应该远远闪开恶灵退散,偏生这千年难得一见的霉骚星霸住了她不放,还嚣张霸气的宣誓:这一辈子,连死都分不开我们,你还能往哪里逃呢?
  • 光灵传说

    光灵传说

    没有谜底的传说和被家族遗弃的废柴相连,主人公经过努力和奇遇,展开了自己的传奇故事。等级提升:魄徒、魄者、天者、天师、天宗、天王、天皇、天帝、天圣、天尊、天神……新人,第一本书请大家关照、收藏、推荐。
  • 妻荣夫贵

    妻荣夫贵

    荣锦死前病躯孱弱,父亲被打入大牢,她被姨娘毒害,一纸休书送断了她这一世的可笑人生,她才恍然想起曾读的一首词:记荣锦,易消难整.......才知道世间荣华和锦贵最易消难整,转眼便到了尽头。闭眼的最后一刻,她发誓,若是重来,她绝不再白头回首曾误!再醒来时,她依旧是那个容动京都的沈荣锦,风华依旧。妯娌间的栽赃陷害,她智斗白莲,虐绿茶,玩得一把好算计。商道上的明争暗斗,她却挣钱无数,数钱数到脚抽筋。情场里的博弈角逐,她俘个贵臣回家生娃。重活一世,荣锦用她锐利的眸子穿透世俗百事,直扼其要。
  • 一路求死

    一路求死

    一双云锦暗纹靴停在眼前,我扯下盖头跪在靴旁,轻声要求:“王爷,请赐我一死。”云锦暗纹靴主人微感诧异:“赐死,为何?”“生无可恋,但死仍有惧。”“那王尚书一家呢?”“嫁出去的女儿泼出去的水,再说,王爷不是嗜杀之人。”云锦暗纹主人奇道:“照你这么说,本王还和尚书联姻作何?”我扯了一下右嘴角:“暴毙的王妃能为王爷带来更多好处。”头上传来一声轻笑:“的确。你想要哪种方式?”我暗舒一口气:“我怕痛。”“好,就如你所愿。”