Body Ritual Among the Nacirema - University of Michigan

1 Article 2. body Ritual Among the Nacirema Horace Miner University of Michigan The anthropologist has become so famil- voted to economic pursuits, a large part of The focal point of the shrine is a box or iar with the diversity of ways in which the fruits of these labors and a consider- chest which is built into the wall. In this different peoples behave in similar situ- able portion of the day are spent in Ritual chest are kept the many charms and mag- ations that he is not apt to be surprised by activity. The focus of this activity is the ical potions without which no native be- even the most exotic customs. In fact, if human body , the appearance and health of lieves he could live.

2 These preparations all of the logically possible combinations which loom as a dominant concern in the are secured from a variety of specialized of behavior have not been found some- ethos of the people. While such a concern practitioners. The most powerful of these where in the world, he is apt to suspect that is certainly not unusual, its ceremonial as- are the medicine men, whose assistance they must be present in some yet unde- pects and associated philosophy are must be rewarded with substantial gifts. scribed tribe. This point has, in fact, been unique. However, the medicine men do not pro- expressed with respect to clan organiza- The fundamental belief underlying vide the curative potions for their clients, tion by Murdock (1949: 71).

3 In this light, the whole system appears to be that the but decide what the ingredients should be the magical beliefs and practices of the human body is ugly and that its natural and then write them down in an ancient Nacirema present such unusual aspects tendency is to debility and disease. Incar- and secret language. This writing is un- that it seems desirable to describe them as cerated in such a body , man's only hope derstood only by the medicine men and by an example of the extremes to which hu- is to avert these characteristics through the herbalists who, for another gift, pro- man behavior can go. the use of the powerful influences of rit- vide the required charm.

4 Professor Linton first brought the rit- ual and ceremony. Every household has The charm is not disposed of after it ual of the Nacirema to the attention of an- one or more shrines devoted to this pur- has served its purpose, but is placed in the thropologists twenty years ago (1936: pose. The more powerful individuals in charm-box of the household shrine. As 326), but the culture of this people is still the society have several shrines in their these magical materials are specific for very poorly understood. They are a North houses and, in fact, the opulence of a certain ills, and the real or imagined mal- american group living in the territory be- house is often referred to in terms of the adies of the people are many, the charm- tween the Canadian Cree, the Yaqui and number of such Ritual centers it possesses.

5 Box is usually full to overflowing. The Tarahumare of Mexico, and the Carib and Most houses are of wattle and daub con- magical packets are so numerous that Arawak of the Antilles. Little is known of struction, but the shrine rooms of the more people forget what their purposes were their origin, though tradition states that wealthy are walled with stone. Poorer and fear to use them again. While the na- they came from the east. According to families imitate the rich by applying pot- tives are very vague on this point, we can Nacirema mythology, their nation was tery plaques to their shrine walls. only assume that the idea in retaining all originated by a culture hero, Notgnishaw, While each family has at least one such the old magical materials is that their pres- who is otherwise known for two great shrine, the rituals associated with it are ence in the charm-box, before which the feats of strength the throwing of a piece not family ceremonies but are private and body rituals are conducted, will in some of wampum across the river Pa-To-Mac secret.

6 The rites are normally only dis- way protect the worshipper. and the chopping down of a cherry tree in cussed with children, and then only dur- Beneath the charm-box is a small font. which the Spirit of Truth resided. ing the period when they are being Each day every member of the family, in Nacirema culture is characterized by a initiated into these mysteries. I was able, succession, enters the shrine room, bows highly developed market economy which however, to establish sufficient rapport his head before the charm-box, mingles has evolved in a rich natural habitat. with the natives to examine these shrines different sorts of holy water in the font, While much of the people's time is de- and to have the rituals described to me.

7 And proceeds with a brief rite of ablution. 1. ANNUAL EDITIONS. The holy waters are secured from the Wa- It is to be hoped that, when a thorough every-day life the Nacirema avoids expo- ter Temple of the community, where the study of the Nacirema is made, there will sure of his body and its natural functions. priests conduct elaborate ceremonies to be a careful inquiry into the personality Bathing and excretory acts are performed make the liquid ritually pure. structure of these people. One has but to only in the secrecy of the household In the hierarchy of magical practitio- watch the gleam in the eye of a holy- shrine, where they are ritualized as part of ners, and below the medicine men in pres- mouth-man, as he jabs an awl into an ex- the body -rites.

8 Psychological shock re- tige, are specialists whose designation is posed nerve, to suspect that a certain sults from the fact that body secrecy is best translated holy-mouth-men. The amount of sadism is involved. If this can suddenly lost upon entry into the latipso. Nacirema have an almost pathological be established, a very interesting pattern A man, whose own wife has never seen horror and fascination with the mouth, the emerges, for most of the population him in an excretory act, suddenly finds condition of which is believed to have a shows definite masochistic tendencies. It himself naked and assisted by a vestal supernatural influence on all social rela- was to these that Professor Linton re- maiden while he performs his natural tionships.

9 Were it not for the rituals of the ferred in discussing a distinctive part of functions into a sacred vessel. This sort of mouth, they believe that their teeth would the daily body Ritual which is performed ceremonial treatment is necessitated by fall out, their gums bleed, their jaws only by men. This part of the rite involves the fact that the excreta are used by a di- shrink, their friends desert them, and their scraping and lacerating the surface of the viner to ascertain the course and nature of lovers reject them. (They also believe that face with a sharp instrument. Special the client's sickness. Female clients, on a strong relationship exists between oral women's rites are performed only four the other hand, find their naked bodies are and moral characteristics.)

10 For example, times during each lunar month, but what subjected to the scrutiny, manipulation, there is a Ritual ablution of the mouth for they lack in frequency is made up in bar- and prodding of the medicine men. children which is supposed to improve barity. As part of this ceremony, women Few supplicants in the temple are well their moral fiber.) bake their heads in small ovens for about enough to do anything but lie on their hard The daily body Ritual performed by ev- an hour. The theoretically interesting beds. The daily ceremonies, like the rites eryone includes a mouth-rite. Despite the point is that what seems to be a prepon- of the holy-mouth-men, involve discom- fact that these people are so punctilious derantly masochistic people have devel- fort and torture.