Information AboutMana |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT MANA | |
| polynesian mythology multi-region | |
| hawaiian mythology | |
| māori mythology | |
| cultural anthropology | |
| fantasy | |
| vitalism | |
| anthropology of religion | |
| SHOPPER'S DELIGHT | |
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Mana is a traditional term and a concept among the speakers of Oceanic Languages , including Melanesia ns, Polynesia ns and Micronesia ns. It is an impersonal force or quality said to reside in people, animals and inanimate objects which provide an observer with a sense of wonder or respect. In Anthropological discourse, ''mana'' as a generalized concept has attained a significant amount of interest; often understood as the precursor to genuine Religion . It has commonly been interpreted as "the stuff of which Magic is formed", although this view has been challenged by later researchers. Modern Fantasy fiction, computer and role-playing games, have adopted ''mana'' as a term for Magic Point s—an expendable resource out of which magic users form their Magical Spells . ''Mana'' should not be confused with the Biblical '' Manna '' (also spelled ''mana'' or ''mannah'') which, according to the Bible ('' Exodus '', chapter 16), provided sustenance for the Israelites. However, some believe its mystical definition can also serve as an alternative interpretation for the substance described in ''Exodus''. ''MANA'' IN OCEANIC CULTURE The word originates in Polynesian Religion and its modern use is a result of the popularization of the concept by Anthropology and, to a great extent, by certain varieties of fantasy fiction. In Polynesian Culture (for example, Hawaiian and Māori ) ''mana'' is analogous to respect but it combines elements of Respect , Authority , power and Prestige . To have ''mana'' is to have influence and authority. This property is not limited to persons—peoples, governments, places and inanimate objects can possess mana. In Hawaiian ''mana loa'' means great power or ''almighty''. ''MANA'' IN MELANESIAN CULTURE Melanesian mana is thought to be a sacred impersonal force existing in the universe. ''Mana'' can be in people, animals, plants and objects. Similar to the idea of efficacy, or sometimes better known as luck, the Melanesians thought all success was traced back to ''mana''. One could acquire or manipulate this luck in different ways (for example through magic). Certain objects that have ''mana'' can change a person’s luck. Examples of such objects would be Charm s or Amulet s. For instance if a very prosperous hunter used a charm that had ''mana'' and he gave it to another person then people believed that the prosperous hunter’s luck would transfer to the next holder of the charm. Universal archetype The concept of ''mana'' has been in various other Culture s the Power of magic. However, it was not the only principle and others included the concept of Sympathetic Magic and of seeking the intervention of a specific supernatural being, whether Deity , Saint or deceased Ancestor . The magic of mana was embedded into all Talisman s and Fetish es, whether devoted to Ancient God s, Roman Catholic Saint Relic s, the Spirit s of the Ancestor s or the underlying Element that makes up the Universe and all Life within it. The concept of mana has been used in various cultures to justify human sacrifices because the living-force or Blood of sacrificial victims might contain supernatural powers whose offering would please a deity. Similar cultural concepts The concept of a life-energy inherent in all living beings seems to be a fairly universal archetype, and appears in numerous ancient religions and systems of metaphysics (in addition to having been borrowed by George Lucas's science-fiction films). Analogies to mana in other societies include:
Also related are the Philosophical concepts of:
''MANA'' IN ANTHROPOLOGICAL DISCOURSE Mana came to the attention of the anthropological community with the English missionary Robert Henry Codrington 's (1830-1922) work ''The Melanesians'' (1891). It has since been discussed by anthropologists such as Emile Durkheim (1912), Marcel Mauss (1924), Claude Lévi-Strauss (1950) and Roger Keesing (1984). ''MANA'' IN FANTASY Fantasy writer Larry Niven in his 1978 novella, '' The Magic Goes Away '', describes "mana" as a Natural Resource which is used or channeled by Wizard s to cast Magic Spell s. Mana is a limited resource in Niven's work, a fact which eventually will lead to the end of all magic in his Antediluvian Fantasy Setting when all mana is depleted. Many subsequent fantasy settings (. The article about Magic Point s lists more games, and examples of the use of ''mana'' in games. REFERENCES
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