JAXY E JAXY JATERÊ

O PONTO DE VISTA GUARANI E DE OUTROS POVOS AMERÍNDIOS SOBRE A ORIGEM DA LUA, AS CONSTELAÇÕES E O SACI-PERERÊ (PRIMEIRA PARTE)

Abstract

Saci-Pererê is such an incredible character. The South American indigenous people´s (Amerindio/a) contribution to the social construction of this being – JaxyJaterê, Mati-taperê, Xaxim-Tarerê, Yasy-yateré, Kambá’í, Saci-ave, Matinta-Perera, amongst other names, is paradigmatic. This study focuseson texts about Saci which have been published in mythology, South American indigenous ethnology and cultural astronomy, all texts based on Afro-Americans and South American indigenous peoples´s oral and written narratives (Tupiniquim, Tupinambá, Kayowa, Taurepang, Surui-Paiter, and particularly, Mbyá e Chiripa). This article has two parts. In the first one, which you read in this publication, my aim is to analyse the black Saci and the indigenous Saci to introduce the different types of Saci that live in South American cultural tradition. My next aims are to demonstrate the relevance of mythology as a theoretical and methodological tool to analyze and translate these characters, and to analyze ethnological data about the Guarani. In the next section, my aim is to focus on a few connections between mythology and cultural astronomy, to investigate possible links between Saci in relation to the moon origin, and Tupi-guarani and western constellations. In the second part of the article, which will be published in the next volume of Revista Espaço Ameríndio, the aims will be: to focuson the relevance of Saci and other legless characters which are present in several myths, and to analyze reasons for having Saci and other similar beings´ portrayed with one of their legs cut in these narratives. Finally, considering Mbyá-Chiripa´s ways of thinking regarding the category já (owner), my aim will be to show the power relations involvingthe divine entities of Ñanderú, Tupãkuéry, Karaí, Kuaray,Jaxy, Curupira and Saci in relation to plants, animals and humans. Last but not least, some connections between Saci and the afro-indigenous category will be presented.