Pasori

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"Pasori" redirects here. For other uses, see Pasori (disambiguation).


Pasori refers to the ethnic group and persons occupying the northern latitudes of Dia. They consider themselves the 'first born people,' a view shared by the Santri and Carissi, who also think of them as an aboriginal society.

The Pasori are physically characterized by their burly stature and swarthy features.

History

old history, war wives etc pact between santri and pasori caris abductions sadar/ war luca

Society

Pasori society is rigidly structured on all levels. top tribes vs low tribes, tribal death, woman seer, tribal leader, subtribes

Organization

Intertribal structure

Hunting and agriculture

The various tribes have different means of obtaining food, ranging from primarily hunting and gathering in the North to a completely agricultural society in the South.

All tribes keep animals, especially donkeys for labor purposes, but for nomadic tribes such as the Pasori Gulo keeping a larger flock in such an extreme environment is out of the question. Many sedentary tribes keep flocks of domesticated goats and in some cases, cattle.

Southern tribes also cultivate a wide variety of crops and vegetables. As these tribes sometimes border Santri towns and villages, there is some trading between peoples and the Pasori have gained different types of crops this way.

Economy

intertribal trading, no currency

Sexuality

Pasori society does not allow for many deviations from the norm, especially in matters of sexuality. Men are expected to father as many children as they can within their tribe, and often take several wives if their means allow. Women are expected to service their husbands and are also expected bear as many children in their lifetimes as possible.

Homosexuality in women and men is considered not only an aberration but an actual threat to the tribe. Members feel strongly that it is a waste to expend energy and resources on an individual who is not planning to contribute to the growth of the tribe. Active homosexuals are often expelled from the tribe if discovered, or in extreme cases even executed.

Culture

Spirituality

survival of the fittest idea

Gender roles

Male and female members of the Pasori clans are kept highly differentiated.

Ceremonies

Each Pasori tribe follows rituals modified specifically towards their totems and traditions. However each tribe shares several basic rituals and ceremonies. Ceremonies are different for different sexes and are kept private and separate from each other.

The first ritual a child undergoes is the naming ritual, in which an infant is given its name at the end of its 8th month of life. Since the Pasori (mistakenly) believe that a baby develops in the womb for 8 months, the end of that same amount of time outside of the mother's body represents its transition from that mysterious realm to the human one. Names are chosen to impart luck or skill upon the child, and are selected to have positive connotation. Names with meanings such as 'sharp-eyed' and 'healthy' are common, as well as names with physical motifs such as 'hot spring' and 'rock.' Other less common names represent a specific need of the tribe or family at the time of birth, such as 'heavy rain' or 'fish hook'. These names are of particular interest to scholars as they are another indirect means by which the Pasori record their history.

Blooding is a rite of passage by which a male individual shows their loyalty to the tribe by killing a member of a warring tribe. For the most part blooding may take place either before or after the male adulthood ceremony, but most members do not have an opportunity to become blooded until after they have achieved their manhood. This practice prolongs feuding between tribes, in some cases for hundreds of years, and has led to the extinction of several.

The adulthood ceremony marks the end of childhood and the beginning of an individual's life as a valuable member of the tribe or clan. For both sexes there is a combination of dances, oral recitations and other ceremonies that must be carried out correctly in order to gain adulthood. There is no physical marker of adulthood once the ceremony has been completed, but the successful individual is allowed to set up his own home on the border of the clan's living area. If accepted they are also granted the status of practitioner of whatever occupation they have decided to pursue. They may also take a wife at this time, or for the women, become eligible for marriage.

Myriad smaller rituals exist for daily life as well, mostly verbal recitations.

Art

The Pasori do not devote a great amount of time in the pursuit of arts, but many practice it occasionally in order to decorate personal objects or as gifts to present to the head of the clan or tribe. Some of the larger clans have been known to employ an artisan though normally individuals cultivate their skills in addition to their primary work.

Typical forms of Pasori art are beading, embroidery and carving. The Pasori are also lauded for their leather working abilities.

Each person is responsible for a ceremonial dress, an overcoat with leggings signifying their place within the tribe and their strengths. The dress is often covered with sewn images and items such as animal teeth and beaded stones. Members of a family assist each other in creating these individualistic pieces. At tribal gatherings they are useful in identifying individuals who perhaps have not been seen for many years.

Tree carving is another form of art. A living tree is chosen to become a carving, and work commences on it. It is a testament to the skill of the carvers to keep the tree alive and create a permanent marker for the tribe. The trees are generally chosen in an out-of-the-way location on the tribal territory, and rarely found intact as warring tribes single them out for destruction.

Folk Tales

Folk tales are an important Pasori oral tradition, often accompanied by costume and acting. crawl out of hole Gender vs neutral stories "How Father Dark Spared the Animals" "How Gulo Bested the Others" Pasori folk tales

Historical treatment

discriminations

Current Status

In the last 30 years acceptance of Pasori members into 'civilized' society has increase dramatically. The election of deSadar in 735 was an astounding upset reflecting the changing make-up of the times. Since his ascension to Emperor, the integration of Pasori people and beliefs in daily life has continued to grow.

A current issue pursued by the deSadar regime is the matter of reparation for the 30 Years War. Citeran refuses to recognize the New Territories as being the same government as Mesda, to whom their debts are due. On a more personal level the Pasori tribes are also seeking restitution for the crimes committed against it by the Amakessarian Kings. At the present it is unlikely that Citeran will admit its fault in this area. Additionally, Citeran is likely without the means to pay either amount considering the totality of their defeat in the war.

[Category: Ethnic groups]