Maori Creation Myth

The orderation of almost every culture in the adult male has a creation myth explaining how the wonders of the ball came to be. These myths have a powerful influence over the peoples culture, and the way they think about their surroundings. Creation myths usually begin with the theme of line of descent birth represents new life-time and a new starting signal. Creation myths develop over the centuries finished oral tradition, and are the most common social class of myths found throughout human culture (Murtagh). The Maori are the aboriginal tribe that inhabits New Zealand.They are believed to have emigrated from the Polynesian Islands to New Zealand in the 500-year period between 800-1300 CE. oftentimes evidence found suggests that the Maori share many common words with the Polynesian langu jump ons along with cultural values. The Maori are one of the most successful groups of aboriginal tribes in terms of surviving colonization. Their cultural traditions have withstood invas ion from the European nations. Concerns about the decline in the original Maori language like a shot have led to schools precept solely in Maori so that the language remains an important part of the culture.The Maori have embraced modern societal structures, which is one of the main reasons they have remained successful. They have make a major political power in New Zealand, have influenced school studies, and recently have devised their own television network (The Maori). In the beginning of the Maoris creation myth, there was however darkness, Te Ponui, Te Poroa (the Great Night, the Long Night). In the absence of the empty space, a glow appeared and the moon and the sunlight sprang forth and the heavens were made light.Rangi (the Sky Father) lived with Papa (the Earth Mother), but as the two lived together, their children lived in darkness. The children could non see, and argued to how night and day might be manifested. Tumatauenga (god of war) encouraged that they kill thei r parents, but Tane Mahuta (god of the forests) advised that they separate their father Rangi from their mother Papa. Rongo (god of cultivated food) and Tangaroa (god of the sea) tried to separate them, but failed. Tane Mahuta achieved the task of separating his parents, and that was when night distingui regurgitate from day.Rangi was heartbroken, and shed an immense quantity of tears, so that the oceans were formed (The Maori). The creation of woman was fashioned from clay by Tane Mahuta. He breathed life into her nostrils, and she became Hine-hauone (the Earth-formed Maid). She bore Tane Mahuta a daughter, Hine-titama (the Dawn Maid) who in time also bore daughters to Tane. Hine-titama was unaware of her fathers identity, and when she found he was the Tane she thought, was her husband, she was overwhelmed with shame. Hine-titama left the world of light, Te Ao, and travel to Te Po, the world below.She became known as Hinenui-te-Po (Great Hine the Night) (Maori Mythology). The child ren of Tane were plentiful, and increased and multiplied, for death held no dominion over them (Maori Mythology). The creation myth emphasizes the elements of nature such as wind and water. Most of the Maori settlements are near coastal terraces. Fishing is a significant part of the Maori culture, and of their major food sources. When Rangi shed tears collectable to his separation from Papa, it explained the forming of the oceans.Some of Rangi and Papas children decided to turn their mother over so that she and Rangi would not have to see one anothers sorrowfulness and grieving. The act of rotating the earth is called Te Hurihanga a Mataaho, the overturning of Mataaho. The act is named after the child that had seen the rotation occur. After the rotation, Rangis tears are less than before, and are the dew drops that form in the night on Papas back (the earths surface) (Maori). The Maori have kept most of their cultural traditions alive to this day.A contemporary Maori somebody fol lowing traditional ways perform certain actions for certain rituals that were used from their ancestors. Spiritual entities such as mauri are thought to be subject not so much to the laws of science as to the traditional laws that govern ritual (Patterson). People around the New Zealand region to this day can hear individuals cantillate these ancient words according to tradition, these were performed primarily because of the emergence of mauri from the chaos of Te Korekore.The spiritual basis of the Maori is not over and done with to this day in age they are continuing to be re-enacted from time to time to help continue the Maori traditions flourish. Mauri is considered to be a very real and important concept of the tradition of todays Maori world. The concept of mauri is alive to this day without a doubt. A local newspaper reported an article on a proposal to stop discharging sewage into a local river. A Maori leader expressed to say that the discharge had brought about an imbala nce in the mauri of the river and without mauri, nothing can flourish. Mauri is said to not only affect living things, but rivers, mountains, villages, institutions, and even activities and events (Patterson). Studying the Maori philosophy today is difficult for outsiders because the important philosophical ideas that the Maori have do not translate forthright into English. This is part of another culture which expresses ideas that are foreign to the English speaking world. The meaning of mauri can take up many meanings life force, life principle, character, essence, uniqueness, quality, or even value.Current findings in the scientific explanations of the Maori concepts have shown in parts of Western and eastern China. The idea of mauri or life force has made the Maori a sophisticated culture with a powerful environmental philosophy. Their philosophy demands that they treat the natural world with respect, and to acknowledge and care about the being of every creature the earth inhab its to try to make sure that their interactions with the world leave it to being a stop place.The Maori philosophy has the ultimate principle of unity (Patterson). The Maori culture is obviously one that dates back thousands of years ago, and has proven to survive through time to this day of age. Their practices through religion, farming, spirituality, educational upbringing, and language has survived and lived on. The Maori creation myth is quite an interesting tale, and even though it was similar to Babylonian myth, it had its distinct differences.