James Mooney's History, Myths, and Sacred Formulas of the Cherokees [Paperback]

James Mooney (Author), George Ellison (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 1992

Originally published as two separate volumes by the U.S. Bureau of Ethnology, James Mooney's History, Myths, and Sacred Formulas of the Cherokees has enduring significance for both Native Americans and non-Indian people. The book contains the full texts of James Mooney's Myths of the Cherokee (1900) and The Sacred Formulas of the Cherokees (1891), with an exclusive biographical introduction by George Ellison, James Mooney and the Eastern Cherokees. Mooney's exhaustive research preserved essential Cherokee history, lore, and rituals in a time when such knowledge was dying because younger Cherokees were accepting Western education, commerce, and medicine. The first section of this text covers Cherokee history from the time of DeSoto's search for gold in the 1600s to the late 1800s when the tribal consciousness nearly came to an end. The second section reveals the rich Cherokee mythology, detailing how the earth was made, how all "people" (both two-and four-footed) came about, and how they could all converse with each other. The third section of the book provides 28 sacred formulas from a mass of over 600 prayers, formulas, and songs. These formulas are centered on such things as medicine, hunting, love, finding lost articles, and frightening away storms. Exclusive to this edition, George Ellison's biographical portrait of James Mooney emphasizes the ethnologist's timeliness and his empathy for the Cherokees and their rich heritage. Completing this book are photographs of many of the chiefs and shamans, a glossary of terms, an index, and an immense section on notes and parallels to the Cherokee myths.

Editorial Reviews

Review

A rich mine of information. -- Library Journal, February 15, 1993

You owe it to yourself to become informed about these neighbors, their background, hopes, and problems. --The State: Down Home In North Carolina, March 1993

From the Publisher

During the 1800s, the U.S. Bureau of Ethnology published James Mooney's reports on the culture of the North American Indian tribe known as the Cherokees. Mooney's study has since become the standard by which we understand these people and their way of life. Many consider his writings to be the definitive text on Cherokee life. Appalachian author and historian Wilma Dykeman calls Mooney a "gifted anthropologist," for whom the words unique and genius are "genuinely appropriate." His acceptance by the Cherokees gave him an intimate look at the workings of the tribe. Both accurate and exhaustive, Mooney's research chronicled the full scope of this people's history and mythic structure. This reprint of the classic study of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee by James Mooney is enhanced by the addition of a bibliography of Mooney's writings on the Cherokees. Mooney's historic work is valuable for both the layman and the scholar, whether for casual reading or professional resource material--definitely a standard for anyone interested in the Cherokee tribe or Native American history.

Product Details

• Paperback: 768 pages
• Publisher: Bright Mountain Books (Historical Images) (June 1, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0914875191
• ISBN-13: 978-0914875192
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #158,779 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

42 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Religion, Culture and Magic of the Ani'Yun'Wiyia, December 25, 2003

By 

Zekeriyah (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: James Mooney's History, Myths, and Sacred Formulas of the Cherokees (Paperback)

This incredible volume collects together the works of the early anthropologist James Mooney who did work amongst the Eastern Cherokee Nation (those who remained in Appalachia) at the turn of the century. The introduction is done by a biographer of Mooney's and gives a nice overview of both Mooney and the Cherokee Nation, as well as notes on Mooney's sources. It then goes straight into the first book "Myths of the Cherokee", which starts with a history of the Cherokee Nation. It goes from the earliest days, through de Soto, the Indian wars, Tecumseh, the Trail of Tears, the Civil War and ultimately up to about 1900. It then goes on to explore Cherokee mythology and storytellers. This book is truely monumental in its scope and covers origin myths, animal stories, Kanati and Selu, the Nunnehi and Yunwi'Tsundi (little people), Tlanuwa (thunderbirds), Uktena (horned water snake), interactions with other Nations and numerous other myths, as well as local legends from various parts of the Southeast (North Carolina, Tenesse, Georgia, etc). There is also a section of herbal lore as well. Mooney closes it out with a glossary of Cherokee terms (in the Latin alphabet rather than the Sequoya Syllabery) and abundant notes.

We then go to the next book, Sacred Formulaes of the Cherokee, which covers a number of magical texts amongst the Cherokee Nation. This book does a wonderful job talking about such manuals, mentioning how they were obtaine, going into depth about the Cherokee worldview and beliefs on magic, concepts of disease, healing ceremonies, practices such as bleeding, rubbing and bathing, Shamanism, the use of wording, explanations of the formulae and so forth. It then goes on to give an amazingly varied collection of Cherokee formulae, first in the original Cherokee (again, in the Latin alphabet) and then translated into English. Everything from healing to killing witches to medicine for stick ball games and war. Both books include numerous photographs and illustrations of famous historical figures, Cherokee manuscripts and petroglyphs and a map of Cherokee lands. Again, this is a truely massive book and even today is considered one of the essential writings of Cherokee religion. Anyone with an interest in the subject, whether anthropologist, descendant of the Cherokee or just curious person interested in Native culture, should definately give this book a read. I highly recommend it.

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Almost Compete Text of Cherokee Information, May 5, 2000

By 

Nightshifter (Southeast Kansas) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: James Mooney's History, Myths, and Sacred Formulas of the Cherokees (Paperback)

This is the ideal book for anyone doing research into Cherokee. Spirituality, rituals, history and much more is covered in this text. The only down side is it was written many years ago and does not flow as modern books do, it in itself is a piece of history. Well worth your money, especially before buying any of the "new age" Cherokee books.

34 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Must have book, January 4, 2000

By 

Michael Polich (Norman, OK USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: James Mooney's History, Myths, and Sacred Formulas of the Cherokees (Paperback)

This is the seminal work on Cherokee culture and history. Anyone who wants to know about Cherokee culture should start with this book. James Mooney has preserved the myths, legends, and history of the Cherokees in a book that is of immense importance to future generations. Included in this book is a detailed history (up to about 1900) of the Cherokee tribe, medico-religious texts, and myths. This book is the basic source for Cherokee studies.