Riji

Riji

Riji are the pearl shells traditionally worn by Aboriginal men in the north-west part of Australia, around present day Broome. The word Riji is from the Bardi language. Another word for it is "jakuli".

Rijis were worn as pubic coverings, like a loin cloth, and attached with hairstring from a belt or band around the waist. Only men initiated to the highest degree could traditionally wear them. [ [http://www.shortstgallery.com.au/artwork.php?catno=11405 Short St Gallery ] ]

They were often incised with sacred patterns, which could be tribal insignia, or have other meanings, or tell stories. Riji are associated with water, spiritual powers and healing due to the luminous shimmering quality of their surfaces. Bardi equate the light reflecting off the shells to lightning flashes, which are prominent during the monsoon, and to lights flashing off the cheeks of the Rainbow Serpent, who is closely linked to water and rain.

One of the unique patterns used in the Kimberley region of Western Australia is a pattern of interlocking designs. The incised designs are highlighted with a mixture of ochre and resin, which is rubbed into the grooves. Decorated and plain pearl shells are used for rain-making and magical purposes or for trade.

Riji were objects of great value and were traded with inland Aborigines along ancient trade routes over vast areas of the continent. They have been found at Yuendumu in the desert, south-eastern Arnhem Land, Queensland and South Australia.

Often plain pearl shells were decorated further along trade routes, far from their place of origin.

Artists are still making Riji today, and many can be seen in Broome. Some use the older, sacred patterns, while others choose to use more modern designs.

References

*http://www.nga.gov.au/Exhibition/Tactility/Detail.cfm?IRN=83544


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Riji — Rijis Riji sind Perlmuttschalen, die traditionell von männlichen Aborigines im Nordwesten Australiens, in der Gegend des heutigen Broome getragen werden. Das Wort Riji kommt aus der Sprache der Bardi und wird manchmal auch jakuli genannt.… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • rijimas — rijìmas sm. (2) DŽ, ryjìmas (2) K; M → ryti: 1. R147, K, M Rijimas yra refleksinis aktas rš. Rijimo aktas labai komplikuotas V.Laš. 2. NdŽ. 3. Sut, N, LL176 → ryti 4: Neišpasakytas y[ra] ano rijìmas – gal užspringti Šll. Vaiko rijìmas – in… …   Dictionary of the Lithuanian Language

  • rijikas — rijìkas, ė smob. (2); Q453, M 1. kas daug ir godžiai ėda: Mūsų šuo tikras rijìkas: ėda apsiputojęs Lnkv. Avininkai! – tarė vilkas. – Tamista mane krividiji, vadini mane bestija, nepasotintu rijiku nekalto kraujo avelių Tat. 2. DŽ menk. kas daug …   Dictionary of the Lithuanian Language

  • rijikas — riji̇̀kas, riji̇̀kė dkt. Mūsų šuõ ti̇̀kras riji̇̀kas – rỹja bet ką̃ …   Bendrinės lietuvių kalbos žodyno antraštynas

  • rijikė — riji̇̀kas, riji̇̀kė dkt. Mūsų šuõ ti̇̀kras riji̇̀kas – rỹja bet ką̃ …   Bendrinės lietuvių kalbos žodyno antraštynas

  • rijimas — riji̇̀mas dkt. Riji̇̀mas yrà reflèksinis vei̇̃ksmas …   Bendrinės lietuvių kalbos žodyno antraštynas

  • rijingas — rijìngas, a adj. (1) ėdrus: Tokia nerijìnga ir riebi kiaulė Imb …   Dictionary of the Lithuanian Language

  • Ding Ling — For the ancient Siberian people, see Dingling. Ding Ling Dīng Líng (丁玲) was the pseudonym of Jiǎng Bīngzhī (蒋冰之), also known as Bīn Zhǐ (彬芷) (October 12, 1904 March 4, 1986), a Chinese woman author from Linli (临澧) in Hunan province.[1] She was… …   Wikipedia

  • ūryti — ū̃ryti, ija ( yja), ijo ( yjo) Rtr, BŽ33, NdŽ, FrnW, DŽ1, KŽ, ūryti 1. tr. Ps, Grz nuolat įkyriai barti, ūdyti: Kasdien ūrija, ir kasdien tas pats Paį. Jis ū̃rija i ū̃rija mane rytą vakarą Jnš. Ją vis ū̃rijo ū̃rijo, ir išėjo iš galvos Ėr. Jų… …   Dictionary of the Lithuanian Language

  • Lu Hsün — Luxun, Fotografie von 1930 Lu Xun (chin. 魯迅 / 鲁迅, Lǔ Xùn, eigentlich chin. 周樹人, Zhōu Shùrén; *1881 in Shaoxing; † 1936 in Shanghai) war ein chinesischer Schriftsteller und Intellektueller der von der Beida (Peking Universität) ausgehende …   Deutsch Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”