Tohunga under tapu Tohunga



tohunga handling dead fed another, become tapu , not handle food.


tapu 1 of ingrained beliefs , religious customs of māori. word tapu may translated sacred or forbidden, māori tapu has host of variations. there personal tapu , local tapu; tapu of 1 kind or faced māori everywhere. served purpose similar of jewish laws of prohibition , quarantine.


tohunga imbued mysterious essences of tapu because of knowledge of ancient , potent karakia, religious ceremonies , office mediums of communication dread atua. ariki had strong personal tapu prevented common person eating out of same food basket or using belonging chief.


the remains of sacred dead , connected therewith highly tapu , had been engaged in handling dead or bones of dead extremely tapu , not dare touch food hands. consequently, such persons had fed in manner shown in painting here. painted life @ old-time pa (village) in wanganui district. outer pallisaded fence of pa, carved posts, totara, shown in background. tohunga kneeling on mats in front of raupo whare (house) in remote corner of settlement.







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