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Mana
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{{otheruses}}
'''Mana''' is a traditional term and a concept among the speakers of
Oceanic languages, including
Melanesians,
Polynesians and
Micronesians. It is an impersonal force or quality said to reside in people, animals and inanimate objects which provide an observer with a sense of wonder or respect. In
anthropology anthropological discourse, ''mana'' as a generalized concept has attained a significant amount of interest; often understood as the precursor to genuine
religion. It has commonly been interpreted as "the stuff of which
magic and religion magic is formed," although this view has been challenged by later researchers.
Modern
fantasy fiction, computer and role-playing games, has adopted ''mana'' as a term for
magic points – an expendable resource out of which magic users form their
Magic (gaming) magical spells.
''Mana'' should not be confused with the Biblical ''
manna'' (also spelled ''mana'' or ''mannah'') which, according to the Bible (''
Exodus'', chapter 16), provided sustenance for the Israelites. However, some believe its mystical definition can also serve as an alternative interpretation for the substance described in ''Exodus''.
''Mana'' in Oceanic culture
The word originates in
Polynesian mythology Polynesian religion, and its modern use is a result of the popularization of the concept by
anthropology and, to a great extent, by certain varieties of fantasy fiction. In
Polynesian culture (e.g.,
Hawaiian people Hawaiian,
MÄ?ori), ''mana'' is analogous to respect, but it combines elements of
respect,
authority, power, and
prestige. To have ''mana'' is to have influence and authority. This property is not limited to persons—peoples, governments, places, and inanimate objects can possess mana. In
Hawaiian language Hawaiian, ''mana loa'' means great power or almighty.
Melanesian mana is thought to be a sacred impersonal force existing in the universe. Mana can be in people, animals, plants, and objects. Similar to the idea of efficacy or sometimes better known as luck, the Melanesians thought all success was traced back to mana. You could acquire or manipulate this luck in different ways (for example through magic). Certain objects that have mana can change a person’s luck.
Examples of such objects would be charms or amulets: If a very prosperous hunter used a charm that had mana, and he gave it to another person, people believed that the prosperous hunter’s luck would transfer to the next holder of the charm.
Universal archetype
The concept of ''mana'' has been, in various other
cultures, the
power (sociology) power of magic; however, it was not the only principle, and others included the concept of
sympathetic magic and seeking the intervention of a specific supernatural being, whether
deity,
saint, or deceased
ancestor.
The magic of mana was embedded into all
talismans and
fetishes, whether devoted to
ancient gods,
Roman Catholic saint relics, the
spiritual being spirits of the
ancestors, or the underlying
element that makes up the
universe and all
life within it. The concept of mana has been used in various cultures to justify human sacrifices, as the lives or
blood of sacrificial victims might contain supernatural powers whose offering would please a deity.
Similar cultural concepts
The concept of a life-energy inherent in all living beings seems to be a fairly universal archetype, and appears in numerous ancient religions and systems of metaphysics (in addition to having been borrowed by George Lucas's science-fiction films).
Analogies to mana in other societies include:
* ''
Australian Aboriginal mythology'' :
maban
* ''
Egyptian mythology'' :
Egyptian soul#Ka (corporal presence/life force) ka
* ''
Greek mythology'' :
ichor
* ''
Inuit mythology'' :
inua,
sila (Inuit mythology) sila
* ''
Leni Lenape mythology'' :
manetuwak
* ''
Norse mythology'' :
seid
* ''
Yoruba mythology'' :
oloddumare
Also related are the
philosophy philosophical concepts of:
* ''
Chinese philosophy'' :
qi (or chi),
Tao
* ''
Japanese philosophy'' :
ki
* ''
European alchemy and philosophy'' :
aether, (or ether),
quintessence
* ''
Hindu philosophy'' :
prana
''Mana'' in anthropological discourse
{{Sectstub}}
Mana came to the attention of the anthropological community with the English missionary
Robert Henry Codrington's (1830-1922) work ''The Melanesians'' (1891). It has since been discussed by anthropologists such as
Emile Durkheim (1912),
Marcel Mauss (1924),
Claude Lévi-Strauss (1950) and
Roger Keesing (1984).
''Mana'' in fantasy
Fantasy writer
Larry Niven in his
1978 novella, ''
The Magic Goes Away'', describes "mana" as a
natural resource which is used or channeled by
wizards to cast
Magic (game) magic spells. Mana is a limited resource in Niven's work, a fact which eventually will lead to the end of all magic in his
antediluvian Fantasy world fantasy setting when all mana is depleted.
Many subsequent fantasy settings (
role-playing games in particular) have followed Niven in his use of ''mana''. One of the first
computer games to adopt ''mana'' as a term for
magic points was the
god game ''
Populous'' (1989), where mana is the resource used by gods (such as the player) to make
divine interventions. The regeneration rate of mana in this setting is proportional to the god's number of followers. Other later games to include mana as a source of magical power include
Secret of Mana (
Square Co., Ltd. Squaresoft) and
Diablo (computer game) Diablo (
Blizzard Entertainment Blizzard) as well as their sequels. Mana is also a key resource in the card game
Magic: The Gathering.
The article about
magic points lists more games, and examples of the use of ''mana'' in games.
References
* Codrington, Robert Henry. 1891. ''The Melanesians.''
*
-
Relevant excerpt (
PDF).
* Keesing, Roger. 1984. ''Rethinking mana.'' Journal of Anthropological Research 40:137-156.
* Lévi-Strauss, Claude. 1950. ''Introduction à l'œuvre de Marcel Mauss.''
** Lévi-Strauss, Claude; Baker, Felicity (translator). 1987. ''Introduction to the Work of Marcel Mauss.'' ISBN 0415151589
* Mauss, Marcel. 1924. ''Essai sur le don.''
** Mauss, Marcel; Halls, W. D. (translator). 1990. ''The Gift.'' ISBN 039332043X
See also
*
Mythology and
religion:
Inua,
Sila,
Polynesian mythology,
Honor,
Animatism,
Egyptian soul,
Elemental,
Sacrifice,
Great Apostasy,
Oloddumare,
Illam
External links
-
Of Winds, Worms and Mana: the Traditional Calendar of the Torres Islands, Vanuatu
-
Allen Varney: Mana in the Real World
-
Encyclopedia Mythica, Mana-like concepts in other cultures
Category:Polynesian mythology
Category:cultural anthropology
Category:Fantasy
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