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Tsentsak
Tsentsak are invisible pathogenic projectiles or magical darts utilized in indigenous and mestizo shamanic practices for the purposes of sorcery and healing throughout much of the Amazon Basin. Anthropologists identify them as objects referenced in emic accounts that represent indigenous beliefs. ''Tsentak'' are not recognized in scientific medicine. __TOC__ Etymology The term ''tsentsak'' is derived from the Shuar language, which belongs to the Jivaroan language family. The Shuar are members of the Jivaroan peoples who reside in the Amazon rainforest of Peru and Ecuador. This term is also used interchangeably with ''virote'' (primarily by mestizo shamans), a Spanish term for crossbow bolt which was applied to the blow darts made by the Jivaroans from the spines of the ''Bactris'' and ''Astrocaryum'' palms. Use ''Tsentsak'' are stored by the shaman in his or her ''yachay'', or phlegm, located in the chest and stomach. The ''tsentsak'' are embedded within this phlegm and eith ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Shuar People
The Shuar, also known as Jivaro, are an indigenous ethnic group that inhabits the Ecuadorians, Ecuadorian and Peruvian Amazonia. They are famous for their hunting skills and their tradition of head shrinking, known as Tzantza, Tzantsa. The Shuar language belongs to the Jivaroan linguistic family and is spoken by over 50,000 people in the region. The Shuar are known for their skill in warfare, both in defending their territories and in offensive actions against external enemies. Currently, many Shuar live in communities organized around agriculture and hunting, although there are also some who work in mining and the timber industry. Name Shuar, in the Shuar language, means "people". The people who speak the Shuar language live in tropical rainforest between the upper mountains of the Andes, and in the tropical rainforests and savannas of the Amazon River, Amazonian lowlands, in Ecuador. Shuar live in various places — thus, the ''muraiya'' (hill) Shuar are people who live in ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Shuar
The Shuar, also known as Jivaro, are an indigenous ethnic group that inhabits the Ecuadorian and Peruvian Amazonia. They are famous for their hunting skills and their tradition of head shrinking, known as Tzantsa. The Shuar language belongs to the Jivaroan linguistic family and is spoken by over 50,000 people in the region. The Shuar are known for their skill in warfare, both in defending their territories and in offensive actions against external enemies. Currently, many Shuar live in communities organized around agriculture and hunting, although there are also some who work in mining and the timber industry. Name Shuar, in the Shuar language, means "people". The people who speak the Shuar language live in tropical rainforest between the upper mountains of the Andes, and in the tropical rainforests and savannas of the Amazonian lowlands, in Ecuador. Shuar live in various places — thus, the ''muraiya'' (hill) Shuar are people who live in the foothills of the Andes; the '' ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Yachay
is a special type of phlegm generated by shamans and sorcerers of the Peruvian Amazon Basin which is believed to contain the essence of their power in the form of , , darts, arrows, or splinters of bone that are believed to be contained in the phlegm. It is believed that these may be fired from the mouth, and that being pierced by ''virotes'' causes various conditions. These may be removed by a shaman, who sucks them out of the victim's body. Etymology is the Quechua word that means knowledge. It is derived from the verb (know), specifically referring to ritual knowledge. Similarly, the word for shaman is , or one who knows. Mariri is the traditional name for a nature spirit that is believed to live in the phlegm. It is believed that the spirit is fed with tobacco smoke. Shamans believe that they can regurgitate the spirit at will and pass it on to a disciple. The disciple either receives the by swallowing the regurgitated substance from the hands of the shaman or by smokin ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Agency (sociology)
In social science, agency is the capacity of individuals to have the power and resources to fulfill their potential. Social structure consists of those factors of influence (such as social class, religion, gender, ethnicity, ability, customs, etc.) that determine or limit agents and their decisions. The influences from structure and agency are debated—it is unclear to what extent a person's actions are constrained by social systems. One's agency is one's independent capability or ability to act on one's will. This ability is affected by the cognitive belief structure which one has formed through one's experiences, and the perceptions held by the society and the individual, of the structures and circumstances of the environment one is in and the position one is born into. Disagreement on the extent of one's agency often causes conflict between parties, e.g. parents and children. History The overall concept of agency has existed since the Enlightenment where there was debat ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ayahuasca
AyahuascaPronounced as in the UK and in the US. Also occasionally known in English as ''ayaguasca'' (Spanish-derived), ''aioasca'' (Brazilian Portuguese-derived), or as ''yagé'', pronounced or . Etymologically, all forms but ''yagé'' descend from the compound Quechua word ''ayawaska'', from ''aya'' () and ''waska'' (). For more names for ayahuasca, see § Etymology. is a South American psychoactive decoction prepared from '' Banisteriopsis caapi'' vine and a dimethyltryptamine (DMT)-containing plant, used by Indigenous cultures in the Amazon and Orinoco basins as part of traditional medicine and shamanism. The word ayahuasca, originating from Quechuan languages spoken in the Andes, refers both to the ''B. caapi'' vine and the psychoactive brew made from it, with its name meaning “spirit rope” or “liana of the soul.” The specific ritual use of ayahuasca was widespread among Indigenous groups by the 19th century, though its precise origin is uncertain. Ayahuasca ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jivaro Languages
The Chicham languages, also known as Jivaroan (''Hívaro'', ''Jívaro'', ''Jibaro'') is a small language family of northern Peru and eastern Ecuador. Family division Chicham consists of four languages: : 1. Shuar : 2. Achuar-Shiwiar : 3. Awajun : 4. Huambisa This language family is spoken in Amazonas, Cajamarca, Loreto, and San Martin, Peru and the Oriente region of Ecuador. Mason (1950) Internal classification of the Chicham languages by Mason (1950): * Chicham ** Aguaruna *** Alapico *** Indanza *** Iransa *** Maranza *** Santiago *** Patocuma *** Chiguasa *** Yuganza ** Wambisa *** Uambisa *** Cherembo *** Chirapa *** Chiwando *** Candoa *** Cangaime *** Mangosisa ** Achuale *** Capawari *** Copatasa *** Machine *** Pindu *** Wampoya ** Antipa ** Maca *** Walakisa *** Zamora *** Pintuc *** Ayuli *** Morona *** Miazal ** Upano ** Bolona ** Bracamoro (Pacamuru) Jolkesky (2016) Internal classification by Jolkesky (2016):Jolkesky, Marcelo Pinho De Valhery. 2016. E ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Psychoactive Drug
A psychoactive drug, psychopharmaceutical, mind-altering drug, consciousness-altering drug, psychoactive substance, or psychotropic substance is a chemical substance that alters psychological functioning by modulating central nervous system activity. Psychoactive and psychotropic drugs both affect the brain, with psychotropics sometimes referring to psychiatric drugs or high-abuse substances, while “drug” can have negative connotations. Designer drug, Novel psychoactive substances are designer drugs made to mimic illegal ones and bypass laws. Psychoactive drug use dates back to prehistory for medicinal and consciousness-altering purposes, with evidence of widespread cultural use. Many animals intentionally consume psychoactive substances, and some traditional legends suggest animals first introduced humans to their use. Psychoactive substances are used across cultures for purposes ranging from medicinal and therapeutic treatment of Mental disorder, mental disorders and pain, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Astrocaryum
''Astrocaryum'' is a genus of about 36 to 40 species of palms native to Central and South America and Trinidad. Description ''Astrocaryum'' is a genus of spiny palms with pinnately compound leaves–rows of leaflets emerge on either side of the axis of the leaf in a feather-like or fern-like pattern. Some species are single-stemmed, while others grow in multi-stemmed (caespitose) clumps. They are pleonanthic—they flower repeatedly over the course of their lifespan—and monoecious, meaning that there are separate male and female flowers, but individuals plants bear both types of flowers. Taxonomy History The type species, ''Astrocaryum aculeatum'', was first described by German botanist Georg Friedrich Wilhelm Meyer in 1818 based on a specimen from the Essequibo River in Guyana. Species One well known member of the genus is '' Astrocaryum vulgare'', typical in the Pará state of Brazil. '' Astrocaryum mexicanum'', a common palm of the Caribbean coast of Central America, is ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bactris
''Bactris'' is a genus of spiny palms which are native to Mexico, South and Central America and the Caribbean. Most species are small trees about tall, but some are large trees while others are shrubs with subterranean stems. They have simple or pinnately compound leaves and yellow, orange, red or purple-black fruit. The genus is most closely related to several other spiny palms—''Acrocomia'', '' Aiphanes'', '' Astrocaryum'' and '' Desmoncus''. The fruit of several species is edible, most notably '' B. gasipaes'', while others are used medicinally or for construction. The ancestors of the genus are believed to have entered South America during the late Cretaceous. ''Bactris'' shows high rates of speciation. Description Both stems and leaves of ''Bactris'' species are generally covered with spines. Stems generally bear spines on the internodes; in '' B. glaucescens'' and '' B. setulosa'' spines are also present on the nodes. A few species lack spines on their stems. All spec ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Blowgun
A blowgun (also called a blowpipe or blow tube) is a simple ranged weapon consisting of a long narrow tube for shooting light projectiles such as darts. It operates by having the projectile placed inside the pipe and using the force created by forced exhalation ("blow") to pneumatically propel the projectile. The propulsive power is limited by the strength of the user's respiratory muscles and the vital capacity of their lungs. History Many cultures have used such a weapon, but various indigenous and aboriginal peoples of East Asia, Southeast Asia, Western Europe, North America, Central America (the Huehuetenango region of Guatemala), and South America (the Amazon Basin and the Guianas) are best known for its historical usage. Projectiles include seeds, clay pellets, and darts. Some cultures dip the tip of the darts in curare or other arrow poisons in order to paralyze the target. Blowguns were very rarely used by these tribes as anti-personnel weapons, but primarily to h ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Crossbow
A crossbow is a ranged weapon using an Elasticity (physics), elastic launching device consisting of a Bow and arrow, bow-like assembly called a ''prod'', mounted horizontally on a main frame called a ''tiller'', which is hand-held in a similar fashion to the stock (firearms), stock of a long gun. Crossbows shoot arrow-like projectiles called ''crossbow bolt, bolts'' or ''quarrels''. A person who shoots crossbow is called a ''crossbowman'', an ''arbalister'' or an ''arbalist (crossbowman), arbalist'' (after the arbalest, a European crossbow variant used during the 12th century). Crossbows and bows use the same elastic launch principles, but differ in that an archer using a Bow and arrow, bow must draw-and-shoot in a quick and smooth motion with limited or no time for aiming, while a crossbow's design allows it to be spanned and cocked ready for use at a later time and thus affording them unlimited time to aim. When shooting bows, the archer must fully perform the bow draw, draw, h ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Spanish Language
Spanish () or Castilian () is a Romance languages, Romance language of the Indo-European languages, Indo-European language family that evolved from the Vulgar Latin spoken on the Iberian Peninsula of Europe. Today, it is a world language, global language with 483 million native speakers, mainly in the Americas and Spain, and about 558 million speakers total, including second-language speakers. Spanish is the official language of List of countries where Spanish is an official language, 20 countries, as well as one of the Official languages of the United Nations, six official languages of the United Nations. Spanish is the world's list of languages by number of native speakers, second-most spoken native language after Mandarin Chinese; the world's list of languages by total number of speakers, fourth-most spoken language overall after English language, English, Mandarin Chinese, and Hindustani language, Hindustani (Hindi-Urdu); and the world's most widely spoken Romance language ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
