What, Who, and Why are Kachinas?
The Hopi doll Kachina, normally constructed of cottonwood, is neither considered nor used as a toy or idol to be worshiped. They are meant to be treasured effigies which represent Kachinas or spirits of the Hopi tribe. Actual Kachinas are spirits of animals, natural elements, deities, or even deceased Hopi ancestors.
Every year, from the winter solstice to the middle of July, Kachinas come down from their spiritual land. They sing and dance in the Hopi villages to inspire the spirits to bring rain for the approaching harvest season. Prior to the dancing ceremonies, the village males will work laboriously for days to make dolls representing the Kachinas of that particular ceremony. During the ceremony, the Kachina presenter gives the dolls to the daughters of the village. After the ceremony, the dolls are then hung on the walls for studying in order to learn each Kachina’s distinctive characteristics. The dolls are a gift of education and a reminder of the Kachinas.
A Brief History
Most dolls were developed in the late 1800s and are represented by four stylistic eras:
1. Early Traditional – (1850 to 1910) – Eight to 10 inches long and painted with vegetable and mineral pigment, they barely resembled the human body. They were designed as stiff objects to be hung on the wall. Cost: $0.25
2. Late Traditional – (1910-1930) – White man tourism and interest in native cultures inspire the Hopi to create dolls with more recognizable features.
3. Early Action – (1930-1945) – Features start to become more recognizable. The arms are now carved separated from the torso. Commercial poster paint is used for details and cloth material for clothing. Cost: $1.00 an inch.
4. Late Action – (1945 – present) – Realistic body parts and movement are introduced. Conservation laws disallow the use of real eagle, parakeet, and other protected species’ feathers. Cost: $500.00 to as much as $10,000.00.
Various Forms of the Kachina
There are four generally accepted forms of the Kachina doll. Each one means to represent a distinct postnatal stage of development.
• Putsqatihu – This doll is designed as a flat figure with just enough characteristics to identify it as a Kachina and made for infants.
• Putstihu taywa’yla – This doll is flat-bodied with a three-dimensional face and given to toddlers,
• Muringputihu – With a fully carved head and cylindrical body, this doll is specifically for female infants.
• Tithu – This is the traditional full-bodied variety with all desired characteristics. This doll represents the final postnatal stage of development and is given to Hopi girls aged two and older.
Currently, the miniature Hopi doll Kachina, a more contemporary variety, is being developed. Generally crafted by Hopi adult females, they’re not considered true Kachinas dolls but merely items for trade.