Book

Symbolic immortality: the Tlingit potlatch of the nineteenth century

Smithsonian Institution Press • Washington • Published In 1989 • Pages: xi, 390

By: Kan, Sergei.

Abstract
In this monograph Kan focuses on the Tlingit mortuary complex of the nineteenth century. Kan considers the mortuary/ancestral complex to be the most conservative aspect of Tlingit culture and one of the main links between the past and the present. He uses a symbolic analysis to explore Tlingit cosmology, eschatology, and ethnopsychology. Kan's examination of mortuary rituals includes Tlingit treatment of the deceased, taboos imposed upon the mourners, and forms of exchange between the hosts (mourners) of memorial potlatches and their guests.
Subjects
Burial practices and funerals
Mourning
Eschatology
Gift giving
Clans
Status, role, and prestige
culture
Tlingit
HRAF PubDate
1997
Region
North America
Sub Region
Northwest Coast and California
Document Type
Book
Evaluation
Creator Type
Ethnologist
Document Rating
5: Excellent Primary Data
Analyst
Ronald N. Johnson ; 1996
Field Date
1979-1980, 1982, 1984
Coverage Date
ca. 1780-1880
Coverage Place
southeastern Alaska, United States
Notes
by Sergei Kan
Includes bibliographical references (p. 357-384) and index
LCCN
8838200
LCSH
Tlingit Indians