Description
Book SynopsisIn this in-depth exploration of the symbols found in Navaho legend and ritual, Gladys Reichard discusses the attitude of the tribe members toward their place in the universe, their obligation toward humankind and their gods, and their conception of the supernatural, as well as how the Navaho achieve a harmony within their world through symbolic cer
Trade Review"This book has been a classic in its field since it was first issued in 1950, and it still stands as uniquely authoritative and intriguingly instructive... [It is] a monument of revelation and insight bridging anthropology, religion, sociology, and history."--Publishers Weekly
Table of Contents*FrontMatter, pg. i*CONTENTS, pg. vii*CHARTS, pg. xi*FIGURES, pg. xiii*Foreword to the Second Edition, pg. xv*Preface, pg. xxvii*Note on the Navaho Language, pg. xxxi*Introduction, pg. xxxiii*Chapter 1. Navaho categories, pg. 3*Chapter 2. World view, pg. 13*Chapter 3. The nature of man, pg. 26*Chapter 4. Pantheon: characteristics of supernaturals, pg. 50*Chapter 5. Pantheon: types of supernaturals, pg. 63*Chapter 6. Theory of disease, pg. 80*Chapter 7. Theory of curing, pg. 104*Chapter 8. Ethics, pg. 123*Chapter 9. The nature of symbolism, pg. 147*Chapter 10. Sex, dominance, and size, pg. 171*Chapter 11. Alternation, reversal, and negation, pg. 180*Chapter 12. Color and precious stones, pg. 187*Chapter 13. Color combinations, pg. 214*Chapter 14. Number, pg. 241*Chapter 15. Perceptual symbols, pg. 250*Chapter 16. Word, formula, and myth, pg. 267*Chapter 17. Song, pg. 279*Chapter 18. Prayersticks, pg. 301*Chapter 19. Classification of ceremonies, pg. 314*Chapter 20. Organization of ritual, pg. 338*Notes, pg. 355*A. Supernatural beings, pg. 381*B. Ritualistic ideas, pg. 506*C. Rites, pg. 614*List of concordance topics, pg. 749*Abbreviations, pg. 756*Bibliography, pg. 759*Index, pg. 775*Biographical Note, pg. 817
