Difference between revisions of "Template:Nhsc-v1-148"

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to one historian, "insured the
 
to one historian, "insured the
 
subordination of the lower to the
 
subordination of the lower to the
higher." 11/ Another author explains
+
higher." <u>11</u>/ Another author explains
 
the meaning of kapu as follows:
 
the meaning of kapu as follows:
In its fundamental meaning
+
 
tapu [kapu] as a word was used
+
:In its fundamental meaning
 +
tapu [<u>kapu</u>] as a word was used
 
primarily as an adjective and
 
primarily as an adjective and
 
as such signified that which
 
as such signified that which
Line 18: Line 19:
 
the common and the divine,
 
the common and the divine,
 
therefore requiring isolation
 
therefore requiring isolation
from both for their sakes. 12/
+
from both for their sakes. <u>12</u>/
 +
 
 
Everything associated with the gods
 
Everything associated with the gods
was sacred and there were many kapu
+
was sacred and there were many <u>kapu</u>
 
surrounding priests and anything else
 
surrounding priests and anything else
 
related to the gods. Chiefs were
 
related to the gods. Chiefs were
 
believed to be descended from the gods
 
believed to be descended from the gods
 
and were surrounded by a great number
 
and were surrounded by a great number
of kapu, depending on their rank and,
+
of <u>kapu</u>, depending on their rank and,
 
hence, degree of sacredness. The best
 
hence, degree of sacredness. The best
known of the kapu that affected all
+
known of the <u>kapu</u> that affected all
 
classes was the prohibition against
 
classes was the prohibition against
 
men and women eating together. Women
 
men and women eating together. Women
 
were also forbidden to eat certain
 
were also forbidden to eat certain
 
foods such as pork, and certain types
 
foods such as pork, and certain types
of bananas, coconuts, and fish. 13/
+
of bananas, coconuts, and fish. <u>13</u>/
 +
 
 
The social system of the islands
 
The social system of the islands
 
consisted basically of the king,
 
consisted basically of the king,
followed by the ali'i (chiefs) of
+
followed by the <u>ali'i</u> (chiefs) of
various degrees, kahuna (priests/
+
various degrees, <u>kahuna</u> (priests/
advisors), and the maka'ainana
+
advisors), and the <u>maka'ainana</u>
 
(commoners). There was also a slave
 
(commoners). There was also a slave
class, the kauwa, below the
+
class, the <u>kauwa</u>, below the
maka'ainana, but little is known about
+
<u>maka'ainana</u>, but little is known about
it. 14/ The king was regarded as
+
it. <u>14</u>/ The king was regarded as
 
sacred and held the power of life and
 
sacred and held the power of life and
 
death over his subjects. His
 
death over his subjects. His
 
executive duties included warfare,
 
executive duties included warfare,
 
questions of state, and overseeing the
 
questions of state, and overseeing the
performance of religious rites. 15/
+
performance of religious rites. <u>15</u>/
The king and ali ' i of the highest
+
 
 +
The king and <u>ali'i</u> of the highest
 
rank were protected by the strictest
 
rank were protected by the strictest
of kapu, in order to preserve their
+
of <u>kapu</u>, in order to preserve their
mana (divine power) and the
+
<u>mana</u> (divine power) and the
 
beneficence of the gods, upon which
 
beneficence of the gods, upon which
 
the entire kingdom depended for its
 
the entire kingdom depended for its
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rank was his full-blooded sister.
 
rank was his full-blooded sister.
 
The child of such a union would be a
 
The child of such a union would be a
"chief of the highest rank, a ninau
+
"chief of the highest rank, a <u>ninau</u>
pi'o, so sacred that all who came into
+
<u>pi'o</u>, so sacred that all who came into
 
his presence must prostrate
 
his presence must prostrate
themselves." 16/ For this reason, the
+
themselves." <u>16</u>/ For this reason, the
 
genealogies of the kings were
 
genealogies of the kings were
 
carefully preserved by their
 
carefully preserved by their
 
descendants to determine the purity of
 
descendants to determine the purity of
the bloodline of both partners. 17/
+
the bloodline of both partners. <u>17</u>/
 +
 
 
The political system of the islands
 
The political system of the islands
 
consisted of small kingdoms under
 
consisted of small kingdoms under
ali'i, with four main groupings:
+
<u>ali'i</u>, with four main groupings:
 
Hawaii, Maui, Oahu, and Kauai.
 
Hawaii, Maui, Oahu, and Kauai.
Competing ali 'i waqed wars against
+
Competing <u>ali'i</u> waged wars against
 
each other, and, as a result,
 
each other, and, as a result,
 
boundaries advanced and retreated
 
boundaries advanced and retreated
 
according to the ability and ambition
 
according to the ability and ambition
of their sovereigns. 18/ There was
+
of their sovereigns. <u>18</u>/ There was
 
much discussion in the comments
 
much discussion in the comments
 
received by the Commission about
 
received by the Commission about
 
whether the ancient land system could
 
whether the ancient land system could
be termed "feudal." 19/ Authors
+
be termed "feudal." <u>19</u>/ Authors
 
disagree on the subject. William Russ
 
disagree on the subject. William Russ
 
states that "a feudal regime
 
states that "a feudal regime
prevailed," 20/ and describes the
+
prevailed," <u>20</u>/ and describes the
 
relationships among the various
 
relationships among the various
 
classes in feudal terms. Lawrence
 
classes in feudal terms. Lawrence
Line 91: Line 96:
 
Hawaii and feudal Europe were
 
Hawaii and feudal Europe were
 
different, but there were many
 
different, but there were many
parallels between the two." 21/
+
parallels between the two." <u>21</u>/
 +
 
 
Regardless of the term employed,
 
Regardless of the term employed,
 
written descriptions of the system are
 
written descriptions of the system are
Line 97: Line 103:
 
Chinen, a noted Hawaiian land expert,
 
Chinen, a noted Hawaiian land expert,
 
who does not use the word "feudal:"
 
who does not use the word "feudal:"
When Kamehameha The Great
+
 
brought all the Hawaiian Islands
+
:When Kamehameha The Great brought all the Hawaiian Islands under his control at the beginning of the Eighteenth Century, he simply followed the land system that had existed within the Islands from ancient
under his control at the
 
beginning of the Eighteenth
 
Century, he simply followed the
 
land system that had existed
 
within the Islands from ancient
 
 
{{p|148}}
 
{{p|148}}

Latest revision as of 23:51, 2 April 2006

all classes of society and, according to one historian, "insured the subordination of the lower to the higher." 11/ Another author explains the meaning of kapu as follows:

In its fundamental meaning

tapu [kapu] as a word was used primarily as an adjective and as such signified that which was psychically dangerous, hence restricted, forbidden, set apart, to be avoided, because: (a) divine, therefore requiring isolation for its own sake from both the common and the corrupt; (b) corrupt, hence dangerous to the common and the divine, therefore requiring isolation from both for their sakes. 12/

Everything associated with the gods was sacred and there were many kapu surrounding priests and anything else related to the gods. Chiefs were believed to be descended from the gods and were surrounded by a great number of kapu, depending on their rank and, hence, degree of sacredness. The best known of the kapu that affected all classes was the prohibition against men and women eating together. Women were also forbidden to eat certain foods such as pork, and certain types of bananas, coconuts, and fish. 13/

The social system of the islands consisted basically of the king, followed by the ali'i (chiefs) of various degrees, kahuna (priests/ advisors), and the maka'ainana (commoners). There was also a slave class, the kauwa, below the maka'ainana, but little is known about it. 14/ The king was regarded as sacred and held the power of life and death over his subjects. His executive duties included warfare, questions of state, and overseeing the performance of religious rites. 15/

The king and ali'i of the highest rank were protected by the strictest of kapu, in order to preserve their mana (divine power) and the beneficence of the gods, upon which the entire kingdom depended for its prosperity. Great care was taken to* secure noble offspring with the purest genealogy and thus ensure the continuation of the dynasty and the good favor of the gods. A suitable partner for a chief of the highest rank was his full-blooded sister. The child of such a union would be a "chief of the highest rank, a ninau pi'o, so sacred that all who came into his presence must prostrate themselves." 16/ For this reason, the genealogies of the kings were carefully preserved by their descendants to determine the purity of the bloodline of both partners. 17/

The political system of the islands consisted of small kingdoms under ali'i, with four main groupings: Hawaii, Maui, Oahu, and Kauai. Competing ali'i waged wars against each other, and, as a result, boundaries advanced and retreated according to the ability and ambition of their sovereigns. 18/ There was much discussion in the comments received by the Commission about whether the ancient land system could be termed "feudal." 19/ Authors disagree on the subject. William Russ states that "a feudal regime prevailed," 20/ and describes the relationships among the various classes in feudal terms. Lawrence Fuchs says that: "The religious, family, and property systems of feudal Hawaii and feudal Europe were different, but there were many parallels between the two." 21/

Regardless of the term employed, written descriptions of the system are similar. The following is from Jon Chinen, a noted Hawaiian land expert, who does not use the word "feudal:"

When Kamehameha The Great brought all the Hawaiian Islands under his control at the beginning of the Eighteenth Century, he simply followed the land system that had existed within the Islands from ancient
-p148-