- EAN13
- 9782956398189
- Éditeur
- pacific-credo Publications
- Date de publication
- 26/11/2018
- Collection
- Monographies
- Langue
- anglais
- Fiches UNIMARC
- S'identifier
Maenge gardens
A study of Maenge relationship to domesticates
Françoise Panoff
pacific-credo Publications
Monographies
Livre numérique
-
Aide EAN13 : 9782956398189
- Fichier PDF, libre d'utilisation
- Fichier EPUB, libre d'utilisation
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- Lecture en ligne, lecture en ligne
10.99
Domesticates play a central part both in the everyday and ritual life of the
Maenge people of New Britain. Maenge relationship to this category of plants
is here analysed through their horticultural techniques, their systems of
classification and appellation, their utilisations and finally through myths
and rites. Gardening techniques as well as the systems of classification and
appellation emphasise the importance of the notion of cultivar in Maenge eyes.
While the taxonomy of domesticates is relatively shallow, keys are built by
taking into account minute differences between cultivars, as is shown with
reference to taro and cordyline. As men may receive names of taro cultivars or
give their own names to cultivated trees, the boundaries between nature and
culture are suppressed: domesticates appear as part of humans’ culture, a
point made even clearer by the attribution of a soul to cultigens since this
soul endows them with powers similar to those of men: ability of feeling,
agency. The distinction between hot and cold categories is fundamental for an
understanding of Maenge medicine and gardening rites. The category of the
rotten is also essential for a population of gardeners who fully recognise the
part played by rotten matter in rebuilding the topsoil during the fallow
period. Gardens, in the Maenge setting, thus appear not only as food reserves
but as laboratories where experiments are ceaselessly going on as well as
sanctuaries. Gardening provides not only social prestige but intellectual and
aesthetic pleasures.
Maenge people of New Britain. Maenge relationship to this category of plants
is here analysed through their horticultural techniques, their systems of
classification and appellation, their utilisations and finally through myths
and rites. Gardening techniques as well as the systems of classification and
appellation emphasise the importance of the notion of cultivar in Maenge eyes.
While the taxonomy of domesticates is relatively shallow, keys are built by
taking into account minute differences between cultivars, as is shown with
reference to taro and cordyline. As men may receive names of taro cultivars or
give their own names to cultivated trees, the boundaries between nature and
culture are suppressed: domesticates appear as part of humans’ culture, a
point made even clearer by the attribution of a soul to cultigens since this
soul endows them with powers similar to those of men: ability of feeling,
agency. The distinction between hot and cold categories is fundamental for an
understanding of Maenge medicine and gardening rites. The category of the
rotten is also essential for a population of gardeners who fully recognise the
part played by rotten matter in rebuilding the topsoil during the fallow
period. Gardens, in the Maenge setting, thus appear not only as food reserves
but as laboratories where experiments are ceaselessly going on as well as
sanctuaries. Gardening provides not only social prestige but intellectual and
aesthetic pleasures.
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