The continued story of creation according to Maori legend.
The passages of time continued and the children of Ranginui and Papatuanuku adorned the earth and the heavens with their offspring. The time had come for the human form to be produced. Urutengangana was anxious that the earth should be provided with the element of ira tangata (the human, tangible dimension). He encouraged his siblings to search for the female element to enable the creation of woman. Urutengangana knew that the ira tangata needed would only come from the earth and not just from himself or siblings as they were of ira atua (the divine, spiritual dimension).
The guardians search was long, they searched both land and sea, then finally Tanematua sought out his mother, Papatuanuku, for her advice and knowledge. Papatuanuku consoled Tanematua for his own and his siblings plight. Taking pity on him, she advised that he go to a place called Kurawaka, for it was there that her blood had flowed into the ground when she and Rangi were torn apart, for in that place the female is in a state of potentiality containing the seed of the likeness of humans. It would be here that he would find ira tangata, here that he would find the earth that would be essential to create the form of woman.
Tanematua returned to his siblings and spoke of his mothers words. They journeyed to Kurawaka and here they found the red clay that Papatuanuku had spoken of. The siblings shared in the creation of woman, each contributing to her form. The older siblings were responsible for the shaping of her body, and the younger added the flesh, fat, muscles and blood. Tukapua and a few others provided the lungs and kidneys. These parts were made separately and then fitted together. After this was completed, Tanematua took her in his arms, pressed his nose to her nose and breathed life into her nostrils. Her eyes opened and she sneezed. This was the first woman, Hine-ahu-one, the Woman of the Earth.
It is important to note that although Tanematua supplied the breath, Rehua, the head mangai (consul or ambassador) of Io, following the instructions from Io Matua, implanted the thoughts and the living spirit (hau) into her.
Maori Warrior pic from tvnz.co.nz
The next installment will tell the story of The Quest for Knowledge.
how the kiwi lost his wings from Urban Scrawl on January 13, 2008 3:30 AM
I came across a site containing some Maori legends and thought it might be interesting to post them here as a series over the next few days. The first one here is basically a 'stand alone' legend, whereas the rest... ..read more
creation from Urban Scrawl on January 13, 2008 4:32 AM
As promised, this is the first part in a small series from Maori legend about creation. If the phraseology seems a little out in areas, it's because I did not want to alter it too much from the original translation... ..read more
the revenge of tawhirimatea from Urban Scrawl on January 13, 2008 4:33 AM
This is the second part in the continued story of creation according to Maori legend. Now rose up Tawhirimatea, the guardian of winds and storms, who all this time had held his breath. Great anger moved him now, and this... ..read more
the revenge of tumatauenga from Urban Scrawl on January 13, 2008 4:40 AM
This is the third part in the continued story of creation according to Maori legend. But now a savage mood came over Tumatauenga the war guardian, wrath of man. Since Tanemahuta and the other three had been defeated and had... ..read more
the turning of papatuanuku from Urban Scrawl on January 13, 2008 4:42 AM
The continued story of creation according to Maori legend. Up to the present time Ranginui, the Sky, has remained separate from his wife, Papatuanuku, the Earth, but their love has never diminished, and Ranginui at the beginning shed an immense... ..read more
the quest for knowledge from Urban Scrawl on January 13, 2008 4:45 AM
The continued story of creation according to Maori legend. This is the story of how Tane, the progenitor of mankind, of the forests and all the creatures of the forest, ascended through the many realms to the uppermost realm, occupied... ..read more
the guardian of death from Urban Scrawl on January 13, 2008 4:49 AM
The final story in the series of creation according to Maori legend. Tanematua took Hineahuone (as she was now called), for his wife. Their first born daughter was Hinetitama. We now turn to the story of Hinetitama. Tanematua took her... ..read more
