Zuñi Folk Tales

Name: Zuñi Folk Tales
Author: Frank Hamilton Cushing

By Frank Hamilton Cushing

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Mythology, Legends & Folklore

About This Book

A gathered set of traditional Zuñi narratives explains natural and social origins through mythic episodes and animal-personified tales. The material ranges from creation and origin accounts to trickster adventures involving coyotes, culture-hero pairs, and encounters with spirits and demons. Recurring ideas include a pervasive magical force animating beings, the porous boundary between human and animal realms, and the centrality of song, dance, and ritual in community life. The translations present a mix of short folktales, etiological myths, and longer heroic cycles that convey beliefs, moral lessons, and ceremonial contexts.

About the Author

Frank Hamilton Cushing

Frank Hamilton Cushing was an American ethnologist and archaeologist known for his pioneering work on the culture and traditions of the Zuñi people of New Mexico. He served as a key figure in the Bureau of Ethnology, where he contributed significantly to the understanding of Native American cultures through detailed studies and reports. His notable works include "A Study of Pueblo Pottery as Illustrative of Zuñi Culture Growth" and "Outlines of Zuñi Creation Myths," which explore the artistic and mythological aspects of Zuñi life. Cushing's immersive approach and firsthand experiences among the Zuñi have left a lasting impact on the field of anthropology.