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Gods of the Modekngei Religion in Belau

1987; National Museum of Ethnology; Volume: 21; Linguagem: Inglês

0387-6004

Machiko Aoyagi,

Pacific and Southeast Asian Studies

A god appeared to a man named Tamadad in Chol vi11age ofBabeldaob Island, Belau,.around 1914. He was a shamanistic mediator between the village god, Ngirchomkuul, and the Chol villagers, bUt his conduct on this particular occasion was unusual. Shortly thereafter, Ongesi, his brother-in-law, and his friend Runguul,joined Tamadad in his religious activities. They named their religion Modekngei (lit. to get together). Many Belauans began to fo11ow them and flocked to Chol village. It is most interesting to examine the reasons why so many people suddenly switched their allegiance from traditional of their own to Tamadad's god. The fo11owing activities of the leaders may be cited as the 'main factors which attracted the general public to the new religion: a) healing the sick, b) prophecy, c) money-making, d) abolishment of food taboos and banishment of old gods, e) of various local and f) introduction of Christian elements. This paper analyzes, in particular, the nature of one of these factors, incorporation of various local gods With reference to actual cases I collected during my field study. Although a dozen ofgods appears in kesekes (hymns), four seem to be important: Ngirchomkuul (or Ngirchomkuul Eskristo), Eskristo, Chosecheluib ra Delbong and Ngirabeleliu. Ngirchomkuul had been the village god of Chol, but when he waS adopted by Modekngei, his character was transformed. Often he appears in the kesekes in combination with Jesus Christ under the name of Ngirchomkuul Eskristo. Chosecheluib ra Delbong was the village god' of Delbong village and badly iajured in a war. In the kesekes great stress is placed on describing the breeding and death of this god. Because of his tragic character Chosecheluib ra Delbong seems to be Jesus Christ in this religion. Ngirabeleliu was the god of Peleliu Island and regarded as the oldest of all Belauan by Peleliu people. But neither of them had any relation with Tamadad. Modekngei is a type of religion which has neither well-defined doctrine nor a'zeal of missionary work.' In the process of diffusiqn, of such a religion, or objects of worship may be changed according to the・intentions and wishes of the people who accept it, The aim of this paper is to examine how Modekngei incorporated local intO it on di'ffusion.