Chinigchinix
Encyclopedia
Chingichngish is the name of an important figure in the mythology of the Payomkowishum (Luiseño), Tongva (Gabrieliño and Fernandeño), and Acjachemem (Juaneño) Native Americans
(Mission Indians
) of coastal Southern California
.
in accounts written by the Franciscan
missionary Jerónimo Boscana
in the 1820s. One version of Boscana's manuscript was subsequently published by Alfred Robinson
(1846), who gave it "Chinigchinich" as a title. Some subsequent scholars have characterized Luiseño religion
in general, or certain portions of it, or a set of some more widely shared traits, as a Chingichngish cult (DuBois
1908; Kroeber 1925; Moriarty 1969).
Chingichngish, also known as Tobet, Saor, and Kwawar, was not the Luiseño creator, nor was he their earliest personified deity. Rather, he was a culture hero
figure who made humans and established some elements of their lifeways. The claim that traditional Luiseño religion was monotheistic is without foundation. However, some Indians suggested that Chingichngish could be identified with Christ.
, whose traditional religion is much less well known. John Peabody Harrington
(Boscana 1933) thought that Chingichngish might have been a historical figure, but most scholars have interpreted him as a deity. Alfred L. Kroeber
(1925) suggested that Chingichngish beliefs were a historic-period native response to cultural shock of the missions, and Raymond C. White (1963) thought that they might have arisen in response to earlier contacts with European sailors along the California coast.
The most distinctive characteristic of Chingichngish beliefs concerned the existence of a set of "Chingichngish avengers" who spied on human beings and enforced the moral code. These figures included Raven, Rattlesnake, Bear, Mountain Lion, and others. There were also ceremonial items sacred to Chingichngish, including mortars
and winnowing trays. Chingichngish beliefs were associated with the initiation ceremonies for adolescent boys, during which the hallucinogenic plant Datura
(Toloache, Jimsonweed, Datura wrightii) was ingested, but elements of these ceremonies were much more widely shared than were belief in the specific character of Chingichngish.
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
(Mission Indians
Mission Indians
Mission Indians is a term for many Native California tribes, primarily living in coastal plains, adjacent inland valleys and mountains, and on the Channel Islands in central and southern California, United States. The tribes had established comparatively peaceful cultures varying from 250 to 8,000...
) of coastal Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
.
Character
This character was first mentioned in a description of the beliefs of the native peoples who were associated with the Mission San Juan CapistranoMission San Juan Capistrano
Mission San Juan Capistrano was a Spanish mission in Southern California, located in present-day San Juan Capistrano. It was founded on All Saints Day November 1, 1776, by Spanish Catholics of the Franciscan Order...
in accounts written by the Franciscan
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
missionary Jerónimo Boscana
Jerónimo Boscana
Gerónimo Boscana was an early nineteenth-century Franciscan missionary in Spanish Las Californias and Mexican Alta California...
in the 1820s. One version of Boscana's manuscript was subsequently published by Alfred Robinson
Alfred Robinson
Alfred Robinson was an American businessman and author in 19th century Alta California of Mexico and California of the United States...
(1846), who gave it "Chinigchinich" as a title. Some subsequent scholars have characterized Luiseño religion
Luiseño traditional narratives
Luiseño traditional narratives include myths, legends, tales, and oral histories preserved by the Luiseño people of southwestern California.Luiseño oral literature is very similar to that of the Luiseño's Takic-speaking relatives to the north and east, and also to that of their Yuman neighbors to...
in general, or certain portions of it, or a set of some more widely shared traits, as a Chingichngish cult (DuBois
Constance Goddard DuBois
Constance Goddard DuBois was an American novelist and an ethnographer, writing extensively between 1899 and 1908 about the native peoples and cultures of southern California....
1908; Kroeber 1925; Moriarty 1969).
Chingichngish, also known as Tobet, Saor, and Kwawar, was not the Luiseño creator, nor was he their earliest personified deity. Rather, he was a culture hero
Culture hero
A culture hero is a mythological hero specific to some group who changes the world through invention or discovery...
figure who made humans and established some elements of their lifeways. The claim that traditional Luiseño religion was monotheistic is without foundation. However, some Indians suggested that Chingichngish could be identified with Christ.
Beliefs
Beliefs associated with Chingichngish seem to have reached the Luiseño from the Tongva traditional narrativesGabrielino traditional narratives
Gabrieliño traditional narratives or Tongva traditional narratives include myths, legends, tales, and oral histories preserved by the Tongva/Gabrieliño nation of people of the Los Angeles basin and vicinity in southern California....
, whose traditional religion is much less well known. John Peabody Harrington
John Peabody Harrington
John Peabody Harrington was an American linguist and ethnologist and a specialist in the native peoples of California. Harrington is noted for the massive volume of his documentary output, most of which has remained unpublished: the shelf space in the Library of Congress dedicated to his work...
(Boscana 1933) thought that Chingichngish might have been a historical figure, but most scholars have interpreted him as a deity. Alfred L. Kroeber
Alfred L. Kroeber
Alfred Louis Kroeber was an American anthropologist. He was the first professor appointed to the Department of Anthropology at the University of California, Berkeley, and played an integral role in the early days of its Museum of Anthropology, where he served as director from 1909 through...
(1925) suggested that Chingichngish beliefs were a historic-period native response to cultural shock of the missions, and Raymond C. White (1963) thought that they might have arisen in response to earlier contacts with European sailors along the California coast.
The most distinctive characteristic of Chingichngish beliefs concerned the existence of a set of "Chingichngish avengers" who spied on human beings and enforced the moral code. These figures included Raven, Rattlesnake, Bear, Mountain Lion, and others. There were also ceremonial items sacred to Chingichngish, including mortars
Mortar and pestle
A mortar and pestle is a tool used to crush, grind, and mix solid substances . The pestle is a heavy bat-shaped object, the end of which is used for crushing and grinding. The mortar is a bowl, typically made of hard wood, ceramic or stone...
and winnowing trays. Chingichngish beliefs were associated with the initiation ceremonies for adolescent boys, during which the hallucinogenic plant Datura
Datura wrightii
Datura wrightii or Sacred Datura is the name of a poisonous perennial plant and ornamental flower of southwestern North America. It is sometimes used as a hallucinogen. Datura wrightii is classified as a deliriant and an anticholinergic....
(Toloache, Jimsonweed, Datura wrightii) was ingested, but elements of these ceremonies were much more widely shared than were belief in the specific character of Chingichngish.
See also
- Gabrielino traditional narrativesGabrielino traditional narrativesGabrieliño traditional narratives or Tongva traditional narratives include myths, legends, tales, and oral histories preserved by the Tongva/Gabrieliño nation of people of the Los Angeles basin and vicinity in southern California....
- Luiseño traditional narrativesLuiseño traditional narrativesLuiseño traditional narratives include myths, legends, tales, and oral histories preserved by the Luiseño people of southwestern California.Luiseño oral literature is very similar to that of the Luiseño's Takic-speaking relatives to the north and east, and also to that of their Yuman neighbors to...
- Population of Native CaliforniaPopulation of Native CaliforniaEstimates of the Native Californian population have varied substantially, both with respect to California's pre-contact count and for changes during subsequent periods. Pre-contact estimates range from 133,000 to 705,000 with some recent scholars concluding that these estimates are low...