Symbolic Immortality : The Tlingit Potlatch of the Nineteenth Century, Second Edition

Decades after its initial publication, Symbolic Immortality retains its status as the most comprehensive analysis of the mortuary practices of the Tlingit Indians of southeastern Alaska – or any other indigenous culture of the Northwest Coast. This updated and expanded edition furthers our understanding of the potlatch (ḵoo.éexʼ) as a total social phenomenon, with emotional and religious as well as economic and sociopolitical dimensions. The result is a major contribution to both Northwest Coast ethnology and theoretical literature on the anthropology of death. Frontmatter Blurbs Halftitle Title Copyright Dedication Contents Preface to the Second Edition Acknowledgements Tlingit Alphabet Tlingit Technical Sound Chart Map 1. Southeast Alaska, the land of the Coastal Tlingits Introduction The past in the present Northwest Coast ethnology Culture through its key ritual system Mortuary ritual in a ranked society Potlatch as double obsequies and the anthropology of death Cultural background Nineteenth-century history Outline of the book 1 Outline of the Mortuary Rites The Funeral The Cemetery The Memorial Potlatch Part One: The Person and the Social Order 2 The “Outside” and the “Inside”: The Tlingit view of the human being Material Components of the Person Nonmaterial Components of the Person The Inside Controlling the Outside The Tlingit Phenomenology of the Person 3 Shagóon and the Social Person: The cultural ideal The Cultural Ideal The Social Reality 4 The Aristocrat as the Ideal Person The Old and the Young, the Seniors and the Juniors Northwest Coast Sociopolitical Systems: Class versus Rank Ranking in Tlingit Society: The Ethnographic Evidence Prestige Structures Aristocratic Status and Power in Light of Ethnopsychology The Pure and Heavy Body Aristocrat—“Person of the Village” Aristocrats and Shagóon Morality, Rank, Respect, and the Identity of Commoners Part Two: The Funeral 5 Cosmology, Eschatology, and the Nature of Death The Onset of Death and the Deceased’s Exit from the House Reincarnation Smoke, Ashes, and the Power of Fire The Tlingit Universe and the Land of the Dead The Shaman and the Warrior—The Tlingit Supermen Attitude Toward Death and Relations between the Living and the Dead 6 The Deceased, the Mourners, and the Opposites: Actors in the Ritual Drama The Deceased The Decoration of the Corpse Slave Sacrifice The Deceased and His Matrilineal Ancestors in Oratory and Song The Mourners Mourners in a State of Liminality Ritual Expressions of Grief Differentiation of the Mourners Opposites as Mediators The Widow The Naa Káani Summary 7 Grief, Mourning, and the Politics of the Funeral Part Three: The Potlatch 8 The Potlatch as a Mortuary Ritual The Deceased Person Commemorated in the Potlatch The Hosts’ Matrilineal Ancestors The Mourners’ Unity in Common Sorrow and Shared Glory Ritual Services Offered by the Opposites Exchange of Words Oratory Jokes Love Songs Conveying Love and Gratitude through Feasting and Gift Giving 9 Competition and Cooperation, Hierarchy and Equality Rivalry among the Hosts Hosts and Guests at “War” and at “Peace” Rivalry among Guests The Hosts Challenging and Trying to Dominate the Guests Verbal Dueling The Burden of the Gift Differentiating Guests through Gift Giving Aristocratic Gifts The Economic Function of Potlatch Feasting and Gift Giving The Guests Resisting Domination Grief, Mourning, and the Use of the Dead in Rhetoric Part Four: Death in Northwestern North America and Beyond 10 The Tlingit mortuary complex: A comparative perspective Death in Western Subarctic Athabascan Cultures Western Subarctic Athabascan Social Organization Athabascan versus Tlingit Mortuary Complexes Transformation of the Proto-Athabascan Mortuary Complex Northern versus Central and Southern Northwest Coast Mortuary Complexes The Athabascan Base of the Tlingit Mortuary Complex Northwest Coast Society and the Mortuary Complex The Tlingit Version of the Northwest Coast Society and Mortuary Complex Beyond Northwestern North America Conclusion: The Tlingit Mortuary Complex and the Anthropology of Death Epilogue The 1900s and the Following Decades The 1980s and 1990s The Tlingit Ḵoo.éexʼ in the New Millennium Notes Preface to the Second Edition Acknowledgements Introduction Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Conclusion Epilogue Glossary References Manuscript Collections Periodicals Individual Works A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S T V W Index A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S T V W Y Cover Decades After Its Initial Publication, Symbolic Immortality Retains Its Status As The Most Comprehensive Analysis Of The Mortuary Practices Of The Tlingit Indians Of Southeastern Alaska-or Any Other Indigenous Culture Of The Northwest Coast. This Updated And Expanded Edition Furthers Our Understanding Of The Potlatch (koo.ex') As A Total Social Phenomenon, With Emotional And Religious As Well As Economic And Sociopolitical Dimensions. The Result Is A Major Contribution To Both Northwest Coast Ethnology And Theoretical Literature On The Anthropology Of Death. Outline Of The Mortality Rites -- The Outside And The Inside : The Tlingit View Of The Human Being -- Shagóon And The Social Person : The Cultural Ideal -- The Aristocrat As The Ideal Person -- Cosmology, Eschatology, And The Nature Of Death -- The Deceased, The Mourners, And The Opposites : Actors In The Ritual Drama -- Grief, Mourning, And The Politics Of The Funeral -- The Potlatch As A Mortuary Ritual -- Competition And Cooperation, Hierarchy And Equality -- The Tlingit Mortuary Complex : A Comparative Perspective -- The Tlingit Mortuary Complex And The Anthropology Of Death. Sergei Kan. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 367-388) And Index. Decades after its initial publication, Symbolic Immortality retains its status as the most comprehensive analysis of the mortuary practices of the Tlingit Indians of southeastern Alaska—or any other indigenous culture of the Northwest Coast. This updated and expanded edition furthers our understanding of the potlatch (koo.éex') as a total social phenomenon, with emotional and religious as well as economic and sociopolitical dimensions. The result is a major contribution to both Northwest Coast ethnology and theoretical literature on the anthropology of death. This study of the potlatch or memorial feast of the Tlingit Indian peoples of southeast Alaska gives a detailed account of the anthropology of death and ritual in this region in the nineteenth century.