Surrounding the rocky mesa in Northern Arizona's semi-arid region, seven thousand feet above sea level, lives one of the oldest living cultures in documented history - the Hopi. Just as the Taos, San Ildefonso, Acoma and Zuni, Hopi is one of the Pueblo tribes. Their villages settled geographically at the base and on top of three mesas.
Photo courtesy of a friend Mr. Lau
The Hopi believes that all things in the world have two forms - the visible object and a spiritual counterpart. The word "kachina", also known as Katsina, comes from the Hopi word "kachi," meaning "spirit" of everything in the real world. They think that the kachina spirit coming down to the village from the underground chamber "Kiva" would renew the world, initiate children, give direction to all and discipline any inappropriate behaviour. Kachinas are also the messengers who pray for abundant rain, plentiful harvests, good hunting, happiness, health and longevity.
The kachinas comprise three forms: the supernatural being, the kachina dancer, and the kachina doll. The supernatural being exists in the mind and has powers to affect supernatural events such as miracles, deities, souls, spirits, ghosts, etc.
Kachina dancer is a masked impersonator from the tribes and pretends to be a particular supernatural being. There are over 400 different Kachina types in Pueblo's world, ranging from native field plants to wild animals; different weather elements such as moisture, precipitation, and cloudiness; disabled individuals and capable deities, etc.
The carved and decorated kachina dolls are replicas of kachinas' appearance in ceremonies. It is called Tithu or Katsintithu in the Hopi language. The dolls are given to the children who may learn about their cultures and traditions. As the tribe lives in an arid land, water is an essential commodity. The traditional carved dolls were made from the cottonwood trees' water-seeking roots to reflect their spiritual desire.
The cottonwood tree root must be dry thoroughly before carving. Hopi would prime the Kachina dolls after finishing carving, detailed facial features and clothing, decorated with colourful paints, fabric, feathers or fur. Some of the dolls have handheld accessories such as feathers, evergreen tree branches, rattles, yucca whips, native vegetables and weapons etc.
Even though the seepage spring and slow drainage of underground reservoirs make agriculture possible, indigenous Pueblo tribes are strongly motivated to seek essential water supply in any form to survive. Rituals drive and move the villagers. From winter solstice to July, three main kachina ceremonies are given by the Hopi each year in addition to regular monthly dances: the Soyal, Powamuya and Wuko'uyis ceremonies.
Soyal ceremony in winter – the ceremony starts on the shortest day of the year in winter. It signals the beginning of the kachina season from the winter solstice to mid-July.
Powamuya ceremony or Bean Dance in February – the ceremony initiates children; the villagers would receive gifts and bean sprouts distributed by kachina dancers. The non-stop fire inside the underground chamber "Kiva'' warms up the whole room for 15 days, and the bean sprouts start to germinate as a result. On the 16th day, the dancers distribute the bean sprouts to the villagers for planting. The Hopi children would receive dolls, rattles, bows and arrows etc., as gifts from the Kachina dancers. For some of them, an indispensable gift is an admission to the discipline and consequences course.
Wuko'uyis ceremony in June - a wide assortment of kachina dancers travel between Hopi villages and dance in the different plazas. Hopi children would learn farming techniques, and receive food and gifts from the kachinas. The dancers also bring joy and excitement to the villagers during the planting season. The kachina spirits are the driving forces that can motivate the villagers to succeed in a good harvest.
With the wind howling across the rocky, arid but fertile land, Hopi invoked responsibility for protecting themselves and animals from fierce blizzards and freezing winds in winter. The Hopis looked for the streams filled up from the melting ice in spring and left their footprints on the fields covered with snow. They performed under the sky with floating clouds and hoped the sudden summer rainstorms would quench the crop land's thirst. The thanksgiving dances filled the autumn, and the Hopi prayed for the land's fertility for the coming year.
Photo courtesy of a friend Mr. Lau
Kachinas share joy, give direction to all and discipline to some. They are the guidances, guide those who lost their way to reset a new start; motivate villagers, help them overcome difficult times and relieve stress. They are the kind elders who give love and support to the young and educate them on traditions and cultures. They are the psychotherapist, who bring back the disappeared one to heal a broken heart; bring hope to the hopeless. As stated in Hermes’ catalogue, “the Hopi live peacefully – Hopituh Shi-nu-mu means "The Peaceful People''–– and in harmony with spirits.” Kachinas, the spirits might be one of the successful Hopis' secret recipes for living a balanced life over a thousand years in the arid, rocky land.
The French house Hermès issued the scarf, Kachinas, in 1992, the carré Kachinas was designed by the Waco artist Kermit Oliver, the first and the only American artist ever engaged in Hermès.
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