Mana 95601 222829300 2008-07-01T09:15:22Z Deconstructhis 3905009 /* Similar cultural concepts */ Added "* ''[[Iroquois mythology]]'' : [[orenda (spiritual power)]]" {{other uses}} '''''Mana''''' is the concept of an impersonal force or quality that resides in people, animals, and inanimate objects. The concept is common to many [[Oceanic languages]], including [[Melanesian languages|Melanesian]], [[Polynesian languages|Polynesian]], and [[Micronesian languages|Micronesian]]. In [[anthropology|anthropological]] discourse, ''mana'' as a generalized concept has attained a significant amount of interest, often understood as a precursor to formal [[religion]]. It has commonly been interpreted as "the stuff of which [[magic and religion|magic]] is formed", as well as the substance of which souls are made. Modern [[fantasy]] fiction and computer and role-playing games have adopted ''mana'' as a term for [[magic point]]s&mdash;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. ==''Mana'' in Polynesian culture== In [[Polynesian culture]] (for example, [[Hawaiian people|Hawaiian]] and [[Māori]]), ''mana'' is a spiritual quality considered to have supernatural origin – a sacred impersonal force existing in the universe. Therefore to have ''mana'' is to have influence and authority, and efficacy – the power to perform in a given situation. This essential quality of ''mana'' is not limited to persons – folks, governments, places and inanimate objects can possess ''mana''. In [[Hawaiian language|Hawaiian]], ''mana loa'' means "great power". People or objects that possess ''mana'' are accorded "respect"; because their possession of ''mana'' gives them "[[authority]]", "[[Power (sociology)|power]]", and "[[prestige]]". In Māori, a tribe that has ''mana whenua'' is considered to have demonstrated their authority over a given piece of land or territory. The word’s meaning is complex because ''mana'' is a basic foundation of the Polynesian worldview. The magazine ''Maori Law Review'' suggests two essential aspects to a Māori person's mana: *''mana [[Tangata Whenua|tangata]]'', authority derived from [[whakapapa]] connections, and *''mana huaanga'', defined as "authority derived from having a wealth of resources to [[Gift economy|gift to others to bind them into reciprocal obligations]]".<ref>[http://www.bennion.co.nz/mlr/1999/jun.html ''Maori Law Review'', June 1999]</ref> ==''Mana'' in Melanesian culture== 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''. One 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 [[charm]]s or [[amulet]]s. For instance if a very prosperous hunter used a charm that had ''mana'' and he gave it to another person then people believed that the prosperous hunter’s luck would transfer to the next holder of the charm. ==Universal archetype== A concept analogous to ''mana'' has been in various other [[culture]]s the [[power (sociology)|power]] of magic. However, it was not the only principle and others included the concept of [[sympathetic magic]] and of seeking the intervention of a specific supernatural being, whether [[deity]], [[saint]] or deceased [[ancestor]]. The magic of ''mana'' was embedded into all [[Amulet|talisman]]s and [[Fetishism|fetish]]es, whether devoted to [[ancient]] [[God]]s, [[Roman Catholic]] [[saint]] [[relic]]s, the [[spiritual being|spirit]]s of the [[ancestor]]s or the underlying element that makes up the [[universe]] and all [[life]] within it.{{Fact|date=March 2008}} ===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. Analogies to ''mana'' in other societies include: * ''[[Celtic mythology]]'' : [[awen]] * ''[[Roman mythology]]'' : [[numina]] * ''[[Anishinaabe traditional beliefs]]'' : [[manitou]] * ''[[Australian Aboriginal mythology]]'' : [[maban]] * ''[[Egyptian mythology]]'' : [[Egyptian soul#Ka (life force)|ka]] * ''[[Finnish mythology]]'' : [[Väki]] * ''[[Greek mythology]]'' : [[ichor]] * ''[[Inuit mythology]]'' : [[inua]], [[sila (Inuit mythology)|sila]] * ''[[Iroquois mythology]]'' : [[orenda (spiritual power)|orenda]] * ''[[Leni Lenape mythology]]'' : [[manetuwak]] * ''[[Norse mythology]]'' : [[seid]] * ''[[Salish-Kootenai mythology]]'' : [[sumesh]] * ''[[Yoruba mythology]]'' : [[oloddumare]] * ''[[Yoga]]'' : [[prana]] * ''[[Basque mythology]] : [[Adur (Basque)|Adur]] Also related are the [[philosophy|philosophical]] concepts of: * ''[[Chinese philosophy]]'' : [[qi]] (or chi), [[Tao]] * ''[[Japanese philosophy]]'' : [[kami]], [[Qi|ki]], rei; [[Ryukyu]]an mabui * ''[[Europe]]an [[alchemy]] and philosophy'' : [[aether]], (or ether), [[quintessence]] * ''[[Hindu philosophy]]'' : [[prana]] * ''[[Tibetan Buddhism]]'' & [[Bön]] : [[Loong]] or [[lung]]. * ''[[Vitalism]]'' : [[Élan vital]] ==Mana in anthropological discourse== {{Expand-section|date=June 2008}} ''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 [[Magician (fantasy)|wizard]]s to cast [[Magic (game)|magic]] [[Spell (paranormal)|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 game]]s in particular) have followed Niven in his use of ''mana''. In the [[comic]] version of [[Archie Comics]]’ ''[[Sabrina, the Teenage Witch]]'', for example, the ''Mana Tree'' is the source of all mystical energy in the Magic Realm. Some of the first [[computer game]]s to adopt ''mana'' as a term for [[magic point]]s <!--it is likely there were other precedents--> were the [[Computer role-playing game|role-playing game]] ''[[Dungeon Master (computer game)|Dungeon Master]]'' (1987), and the [[god game]] ''[[Populous]]'' (1989), where ''mana'' is the resource used by gods (such as the player) to make [[divine intervention]]s. 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 are ''[[Secret of Mana]]'', ''[[EverQuest]]'', ''[[Warcraft]]'', ''[[Tales of Symphonia]]'', ''[[LostMagic]]'', and ''[[Diablo (computer game)|Diablo]]'' as well as their sequels. ''Mana'' is also a key resource in the card game ''[[Magic: The Gathering]]''. <!-- Mana is also an important, recurring theme in [[Namco]]’s Tales of series, and is often running out in each story. --> <!-- In [[Tales of Symphonia]], Mana is the being of many souls set to save the world, and is the protector of the Giant Karrlan Tree. --> The article about [[magic point]]s lists more games, and examples of the use of ''mana'' in games. <!-- Specific game mechanics should IMNSHO rather be discussed under [[Magic point]]s than here. -- TowerDragon --> <!--This section, in my opinion, needs its own article: "mana (gaming)" --> ==References== {{reflist}} * Codrington, Robert Henry. 1891. ''The Melanesians.'' ** [http://www.toeverytribe.com/ARTICLE9.pdf 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 0-415-15158-9 * Mauss, Marcel. 1924. ''Essai sur le don.'' ** Mauss, Marcel; Halls, W. D. (translator). 1990. ''The Gift.'' ISBN 0-393-32043-X ==External links== * [http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3654/is_200406/ai_n9453293 Of Winds, Worms and Mana: the Traditional Calendar of the Torres Islands, Vanuatu] * [http://www.allenvarney.com/av_mana.html Allen Varney: Mana in the Real World] * [http://www.maoridictionary.co.nz/index.cfm?wordID=3424 mana, Te Aka Māori-English, English-Māori Dictionary] [[Category:Polynesian mythology (multi-region)]] [[Category:Hawaiian mythology]] [[Category:Māori mythology]] [[Category:Cultural anthropology]] [[Category:Fantasy tropes]] [[Category:Vitalism]] [[Category:Anthropology of religion]] [[ca:Mana]] [[cs:Mana (energie)]] [[da:Mana]] [[de:Mana (Ethnologie)]] [[fr:Mana (spiritualité)]] [[ko:마나]] [[it:Mana]] [[lt:Maginė energija]] [[mk:Мана]] [[nl:Mana (mythologie)]] [[ja:マナ]] [[pl:Mana (religia polinezyjska)]] [[pt:Mana (magia)]] [[sk:Mana (mytológia)]] [[fi:Mana (voima)]] [[sv:Mana]] [[zh:瑪那]]