thumb|Palahiko Mana, Water-Drinking Maiden, Hopi 1899. She wears a headdress with stepped Earth signs and corn ears. Water Drinking Woman seems to be a name for the corn itself, one of many forms of the [[Corn Maidens.]]
thumb|Drawings of kachina dolls, Plate 11 from an 1894 anthropology book Dolls of the Tusayan Indians by Jesse Walter Fewkes.
A kachina (; Hopi: katsina , plural katsinim ) is a spirit being in the religious beliefs of the Pueblo peoples, Native American cultures located in the southwestern part of the United States. In Pueblo cultures, kachina rites are practiced by the Hopi, Hopi-Tewa and Zuni peoples and certain Keres peoples, as well as in most Pueblos in New Mexico.
The kachina concept has three different aspects: the supernatural being, the kachina dancers, and kachina dolls (small dolls carved in the likeness of the kachina, that are given only to those who are, or will be responsible for the respectful care and well-being of the doll, such as a mother, wife, or sister).
Overview
Kachinas are spirits or personifications of things in the real world. These spirits are believed to visit the Hopi villages during the first half of the year. The local pantheon of kachinas varies from pueblo community to community. A kachina can represent anything in the natural world or cosmos, from a revered ancestor to an element, a location, a quality, a natural phenomenon, or a concept; there may be kachinas for the sun, stars, thunderstorms, wind, corn, insects, as well as many other concepts.
Kachinas are understood as having human-like relationships: families such as parents and siblings, as well as marrying and having children. Although not worshipped, each is viewed as a powerful being who, if given veneration and respect, can use his particular power for human good, bringing rainfall, healing, fertility, or protection, for example. The central theme of kachina beliefs and practices as explained by is "the presence of life in all objects that fill the universe. Everything has an essence or a life force, and humans must interact with these or fail to survive."
Commercialization
Beginning around 1900, there was a great deal of interest in the Kachina figurines, especially among tourists, and the dolls became sought-after collectibles. For this reason, many Hopi began making the figurines commercially to make a living.
thumb|Kachina dolls in the [[Heard Museum in Phoenix, Arizona.]]
Hopi kachinas
In many ways the Kachina rites are the most important ceremonial observances in the Hopi religious calendar. Within Hopi religion, the kachinas are said to live on the San Francisco Peaks near Flagstaff, Arizona. To the Hopis, kachinas are supernatural beings who visit the villages to help the Hopis with everyday activities and act as a link between gods and mortals.
According to Susanne and Jake Page, the katsinam are "the spirits of all things in the universe, of rocks, stars, animals, plants, and ancestors who have lived good lives."
Wuya
The most important Hopi kachinas are known as wuya. In Hopi, the term wuya often refers to the spiritual beings themselves (said to be connected with the Fifth World, Taalawsohu), the dolls, or the people who dress as kachinas for ceremonial dances. These are all understood to embody all aspects of the same belief system. Some of the wuyas include:
thumbnail|right|[[Hopi Pueblo (Native American). Kachina Doll (Pahlikmana), late 19th century. Brooklyn Museum]]
- Ahöla
- Ahöl Maana
- Aholi
- Ahul
- Ahulani
- Akush
- Alosaka
- Angak
- Angwushahai-i
- Angwusnasomtaka
- Eototo
- Hahay-i Wuhti
- He-e-e
- Horo or Yohozro Wuhti
- Hu
- Huruing Wuhti
- Kalavi
- Kaletaka
- Ketowa Visena
- Kötsav
- Kököle
- Kokopelli
- Kokosori
- Kokyang Wuhti
- Koshari or Koyaala
- Kwasai Taka
- Lemowa
- Masau'u
- Mastop
- Maswik
- Mong
- Muyingwa
- Nakiatsop
- Nataska
- Ongtsomo
- Pahlikmana or Polik-mana
- Patsava Hú
- Patung
- Pöqangwhoya
- Pohaha or Pahana
- Saviki
- Shalako Taka
- Shalako Mana
- Söhönasomtaka
- Soyal
- Tanik'tsina
- Tawa
- Tiwenu
- Toho
- Tokoch
- Tsaveyo
- Tsa'kwayna
- Tsimon Maana
- Tsitot
- Tsiwap
- Tsowilawu
- Tukwinong
- Tukwinong Mana
- Tumas
- Tumuala
- Tungwup
- Ursisimu
- We-u-u
- Wiharu
- Wukoqala
- Wupa-ala
- Wupamo
- Wuyak-kuyta
thumbnail|right|Map of [[Native American tribes in Arizona—located in the Grand Canyon and Northern Arizona regions]]
Zuni kachinas
Religious ceremonies are central to the Zuni agrarian society. They revolve around the winter and summer solstices, incorporate the importance of weather, especially rain, and ensure successful crops. According to Tanner, "Father Sky and Mother Earth are venerated, as are the welcome kachinas who bring many blessings." The Hopis have built their cult into a more elaborate rite, and seem to have a greater sense of drama and artistry than the Zunis. On the other hand, the latter have developed a more sizable folklore concerning their kachinas.
According to Clara Lee Tanner, "...kachina involves three basic concepts: first, a supernatural being; second, the masked dancer (and the Zuni is a kachina when he wears the mask), and third the carved, painted, and dressed doll." The list of Zuni kachinas includes:
- A'Hute
- Ainawua
- Ainshekoko
- Anahoho
- A'thlanna
- Atoshle Otshi
- Awan Pekwin
- Awan Pithlashiwanni
- Awan Tatchu
- Awek Suwa Hanona
- Bitsitsi
- Chakwaina
- Chakwaina Okya
- Chathlashi
- Chilili
- Eshotsi
- Hainawi
- Hehea
- Hehe'a
- Hemokatsiki
- Hemushikiwe
- Hetsululu
- Hilili Kohana
- Hututu
- Ishan Atsan Atshi
- Itetsona
- Itsepasha
- Kakali
- Kalutsi
- Kanatshu
- Kanilona
- Kiaklo
- Kianakwe
- Kianakwe Mosona
- Kokokshi
- Kokothlanna
- Kokwele
- Komokatsiki
- Kothlamana
- Koyemshi
- Kwamumu
- Kwamumu Okya
- Kwelele
- Lapilawe
- Mahedinasha
- Mitotasha
- Mitsinapa
- Mókwala
- Mukikwe
- Mukikw' Okya
- Muluktaka
- Muyapona
- Nahalisho
- Nahalish Awan Mosona
- Nahalish Okya
- Nalashi
- Na'le
- Na'le Okya
- Na'le Otshi
- Natashku
- Natshimomo
- Nawisho
- Neneka
- Nepaiyatemu
- Ohapa
- Oky'enawe (Girls)
- Ololowishkia
- Owiwi
- Paiyatamu
- Pakoko
- Pakok'Okya
- Pasikiapa
- Pautiwa
- Posuki
- Potsikish
- Saiyapa
- Saiyatasha
- Saiyathlia
- Salimopia Itapanahnan'ona
- Salimopia Kohan'ona
- Salimopia Shelow'ona
- Salimopia Shikan'ona
- Salimopia Thlian'ona
- Salimopia Thluptsin'ono
- Sate'tshi E'lashokti
- Shalako (6)
- Shalako Anuthlona
- Shi-tsukia
- Shulawitsi
- Shulawitsi An Tatchu
- Shulawitsi Kohanna
- Shumaikoli
- Siwolo
- Suyuki
- Temtemshi
- Thlelashoktipona
- Thlewekwe
- Thlewekwe Okya
- Tomtsinapa
- Tsathlashi
- Upikaiapona
- Upo'yona
- Wahaha
- Wakashi
- Wamuwe
- Wilatsukwe
- Wilatsukw' Okya
- Wo'latana
- Yamuhakto
- Yeibichai
thumb|Kachina dancers, [[Shongopovi, Arizona|Shongopovi pueblo, Arizona, sometime before 1900]]
Ceremonial dancers
Many Pueblo Indians, particularly the Hopi and Zuni, have ceremonies in which masked men, called kachinas, play an important role. Masked members of the tribe dress up as kachinas for religious ceremonies that take place many times throughout the year. These ceremonies are social occasions for the village, where friends and relatives are able to come from neighboring towns to see the dance and partake in the feasts that are always prepared. When a Hopi man places a mask upon his head and wears the appropriate costume and body paint, his personal identity is lost and the spirit of the kachina he is supposed to represent takes its place. Besides the male kachinas are many female kachinas called kachin-manas, but women never take the part of male or female kachinas.
The most widely publicised of Hopi kachina rites is the "Snake Dance", an annual event during which the performers danced while handling live snakes.
Clowns
thumb|Koshari clown, [[Honolulu Museum of Art |upright]]
Clown personages play dual roles. Their prominent role is to amuse the audience during the extended periods of the outdoor celebrations and Kachina Dances where they perform as jesters or circus clowns. Barry Pritzker stated, regarding the role of clowns in Hopi dances,