“Mesoamerican world tree”的意思、由来-开放百科全书

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Mesoamerican world tree

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World trees are a prevalent motif occurring in the mythical cosmologies, creation accounts, and iconographies of the pre-Columbian cultures of Mesoamerica. In the Mesoamerican context, world trees embodied the four cardinal directions, which also serve to represent the fourfold nature of a central world tree, a symbolic axis mundi which connects the planes of the Underworld and the sky with that of the terrestrial realm.^[3]

Depictions of world trees, both in their directional and central aspects, are found in the art and mythological traditions of cultures such as the Maya, Aztec, Izapan, Mixtec, Olmec, and others, dating to at least the Mid/Late Formative periods of Mesoamerican chronology. Among the Maya, the central world tree was conceived as or represented by a ceiba tree, and is known variously as a wacah chan{{Pronunciation-needed}} or yax imix che{{Pronunciation-needed}}, depending on the Mayan language.^[4] The trunk of the tree could also be represented by an upright caiman, whose skin evokes the tree's spiny trunk.^[5]

Directional world trees are also associated with the four Yearbearers in Mesoamerican calendars, and the directional colors and deities. Mesoamerican codices which have this association outlined include the Dresden, Borgia and Fejérváry-Mayer codices.^[6] It is supposed that Mesoamerican sites and ceremonial centers frequently had actual trees planted at each of the four cardinal directions, representing the quadripartite concept.{{Citation needed|date=May 2008}}

Izapa Stela 5 is considered a possible representation of a World Tree.

World trees are frequently depicted with birds in their branches, and their roots extending into earth or water (sometimes atop a "water-monster", symbolic of the underworld).

The central world tree has also been interpreted as a representation of the band of the Milky Way.^[7]

Notes

1. ^AMNH, {{cite web |url=http://anthro.amnh.org/anthropology/research/mca_objects.cfm?case_number=3 |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2008-04-23 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080928022116/http://anthro.amnh.org/anthropology/research/mca_objects.cfm?case_number=3 |archivedate=2008-09-28 |df= }}, which further cites Butterwick, Kristi (2004) Heritage of Power: Ancient Sculpture from West Mexico, Metropolitan Museum of Art.
2. ^Kappelman
3. ^Miller and Taube (1993), p.186.
4. ^Finlay (2003)
5. ^Miller and Taube, loc. cit.
6. ^Ibid.
7. ^Freidel, et al. (1993)

References

{{cite book |author=Adkinson, Robert (Ed.) |date=1996 |title=The Maya: Sacred Symbols (Sacred Symbols Series) |publisher=Thames and Hudson |location=London |isbn=0-500-06022-3}}
{{cite web|author=Finley, Michael |date=2003 |title=Raising the sky: The Maya creation myth and the Milky Way |work=The Real Maya Prophecies: Astronomy in the Inscriptions and Codices |url=http://members.shaw.ca/mjfinley/creation.html |publisher=Maya Astronomy |accessdate=2007-01-04 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20061225141405/http://members.shaw.ca/mjfinley/creation.html |archivedate=2006-12-25 |deadurl=yes |df= }}
{{cite book |author=Freidel, David A. |author2=Linda Schele |author3=Joy Parker |date=1993 |title=Maya Cosmos: Three Thousand Years on the Shaman's Path |publisher=William Morrow & Co |location=New York |isbn=0-688-10081-3}}
{{aut|Kappelman, Julia}} "Art 347L Mesoamerican Art Syllabus: West Mexico", accessed April 2008.
{{cite book |author=Miller, Mary |authorlink=Mary Miller (art historian) |author2=Karl Taube |date=1993 |title=The Gods and Symbols of Ancient Mexico and the Maya |publisher=Thames and Hudson |location=London |isbn=0-500-05068-6}}

4 : Trees in mythology|Mesoamerican mythology and religion|Religious cosmologies|Mythological cosmologies

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