False Face Society
The false faces are a mask League of the Iroquois Indians.
This is probably the best known medicine League of the Iroquois. There are different names for the " Wooden masks ". The most common is " false faces". The Seneca and Mohawk simply call it " faces," the Onondaga against " hump", the " hunchback " ( Hunchback ). In the literature they are commonly called " false faces". Among the Iroquois, even this covenant is known as the Jadigon'sa shono.
The False Faces covenant occurred mainly at the Midwinter Ceremony in action. Otherwise, the members of this covenant were always active when they were called to heal a sick person.
To become a member of the Federation of false faces, it needed a mediator who introduced those interested.
Ritual
Complained someone over the head, shoulder or joint problems, so they sought to the covenant of the false faces. It also said the masks but the power to to be able to heal the swelling of the head, tooth pain, burning eyes, nosebleeds, a sore jaw or ear pain, but also cause.
The faces of the forest took claim for themselves, control diseases and to heal. They instructed the dreamer what it took to make them helped their faces. You should carve faces that resembled them. Then they should make a celebration in which they burned Indian tobacco and singing songs. The dancers should wear turtle rattles.
The False Faces perform healing rituals with a certain kind of wooden masks. At the ceremony usually include a retelling of the myth of the medical covenant, an invocation of the spirits by burning tobacco, then the main ritual in which the members of the Federal pull through the houses to detect diseases, and finally a feast.
In addition to the ritual masks use the officiating members of the Federal rattles from turtle shells, which are an indication of the worldview of the Iroquois, according to which the world rests on the back of a giant turtle. The arrival of the mask support the false faces is announced by corn stover faces that bear masks from corncob hulls.
Find the healers during her tour a patient who starts a healing ritual, in which singing and again burned tobacco. The ash is blown over the diseased person. In a subsequent meeting of the tribal community in a traditional long house attendees can ask for the treatment of their disease. The ritual ends with dancing, the scattering of other tobacco ashes and a final banquet.
Fixed times for the holding of the healing ritual are spring, autumn and midwinter. Moreover, it can also be carried out at the request of a sick way.
The " false faces"
The masks, which the Society gave their name are preferably cut from the wood of the black lime (Tilia americana ), but other types of wood are common. They were formerly made directly on the tree and until their completion of this cut out without this went down. The tree is selected in a spiritual process, in which the artist wanders until it a ghost at the right tree leads to Iroquois idea. The Spirit inspired the specific features of the design of the mask, which should ultimately be a representation of this creature.
The design of the masks has a wide bandwidth, however, certain features are most common. So they are usually adorned with long, black or white horse hair. Before the introduction of horses by the Europeans buffalo hair or sheaths of corn on the cob instead were common. The eyes are deep set and are accented by metal fittings. In addition, the masks often have long and hooked noses, often downright hooked noses. Furthermore, the facial features are very different.
The painting is done with red and black color: Red masks were started in the morning while work begins on the black masks in the afternoon. The latter are considered to be less powerful. In both colors painted masks represent spirits with " divided bodies ". While previously the painting was generally more colorful, today prevail red masks.
The False Faces Federal Government recognizes different classes of masks. The number and type of classes is controversial, looks something like this:
- Doorkeeper 's or doctoral masks ( doorkeeper or doctor masks )
- Dance masks ( masks dancing )
- Beggar masks ( masks beggar )
- Secret masks ( masks secret )
The beggars or thieves masks be no part of the real society. The secret masks are never used in public ceremonies in the Council House at the Midwinter Ceremony.
The masks can be categorized not only by their shape or by their appearance, but also by their function. The role of the mask is used, is even of greater importance than their shape. So does the dancing, the action of the carrier generally a central position. The success of a ceremony largely depends on the talent of the mask carrier. It is very important that they can dance well and represent good.
Traditionalists reject the designation as masks from all over, since we are dealing with living incarnations of spirits and not mere objects. Accordingly, the masks are also treated; " fed " them with tobacco.
Death of a member of the Federal False Faces, he bequeathed his mask his children. But if he is childless, he may request that his mask is buried with him.
In the recent time, the masks have become a contentious issue, since produce tribal artisans belonging to ritual masks to be sold as souvenirs to tourists and collectors. The leadership of the Iroquois, responded to this perceived as commercialization of traditional development with the adoption of a resolution against the sale of the sacred masks. You ask it also collectors and museums to return already acquired masks.
The other specific items of the Company relating to the Iroquois legend. They consist of the masks, the turtle rattles, the bark rattles, a post to which a cornhusk mask is attached to a small wooden false face, a small turtle rattle and a tobacco basket.
Myth of origin and historical foundation
The tradition of the Iroquois League continues the tradition of medicine back to the "ghost medicine man " (Spirit Medicine Man ), that for his love for all beings healing powers were conferred. This resulted in a competition with a stranger about who could move from both a mountain. The stranger brought the mountain to tremble, and then the ghost medicine man attested his great ability, but lack of faith. He even moved the mountain with a jerk so that he met the stranger's face and it shattered. The ghost medicine man healed him back immediately and took him in his healing. The nameless stranger was to a great healer Old Broken Nose ( lit. " Old Broken Nose" ), which the rituals honor since then and show its face with the broken nose of the mountain, the masks. In various versions of the story, a creator deity takes the place of the ghost medicine man, while the stranger names like "Wrong Face " (False Face) or carries " the Great Face " ( Great Face).
The above-mentioned legend is not the only one. The Seneca know two that explain the origin of society, mohawk know even three. These stories explain the origin of the different classes of masks.
About the age of the company, the experts argue. There are actually only a few early reports on the culture of the Iroquois. Nevertheless, an early origin of society is not excluded, since the ceremonies are usually held secret. Another sign that speaks for an early existence of this covenant, are the remains of stone pots and pipes, on which faces were carved that resemble the false faces. The literature mentions the false faces for the first time in 1851 by Lewis H. Morgan.