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Cherokee society refers to the traditional society and culture of the Cherokee (or ᎠᏂᏴᏫᏯᎢ (''a-ni-yv-wi-ya-i'') in Cherokee language) people. The Cherokee are a people native to North America who at the time of European contact in the 17th century inhabited the mountain and inland regions of the southeastern United States in areas of present-day Tennessee, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia, before the majority of the tribe was forcefully moved to Indian Territory. Cherokee society was traditionally organized into seven clans, with Cherokee villages having two governmental units (with one government handling affairs in peacetime and the other during times of war) and a medicine chief, who would resolve disputes between the Red Chief and White Chief should they disagree. Family was central to Cherokee society. During the year, the Cherokee celebrated the Cherokee Moons Ceremonies. The capital of the Cherokee Nation and the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians is Tahlequah, Oklahoma. According to local legend, after the arrival of the Cherokee on the Trail of Tears, the three chiefs of the Cherokee People (Red Chief, White Chief, and the Medicine Chief) had scheduled a rendezvous near present-day Tahlequah in order to select a site to settle and use as the seat of local government. When they arrived at the site of present-day Tahle-quah, only two of the three chiefs arrived on time. After waiting for the third chief to arrive and gain consensus, the two chiefs went ahead and approved the site and named it "Tahle-quah". In Cherokee, "Tahle" represents the number two and "quah" means "it's enough", or translated as "Two is enough", indicating the two chiefs present constituted a quorum and felt they could make the decision on the townsite for the Cherokee Nation Capital without waiting for the third chief to arrive. The legend does not state which of the three chiefs were not present, but it was believed to have been the White Chief who was late. ==The seven Cherokee Clans== (詳細はAh-ni-yv-wi-ya society was traditionally grouped around a social organization of seven clans. These were: *''Blue (also Panther or Wild Cat) Clan'' (ᎠᏂᏌᎰᏂ (''a-ni-sa-ho-ni'') in Cherokee) made a medicine from a bluish colored plant called the Cherokee black drink for purification ceremonies. *''Long Hair (also Twister, Hair Hanging Down, or Wind) Clan'' (ᎠᏂᎩᎶᎯ (''ah-ni-gi-lo-hi'') in Cherokee) wore their hair in elaborate hairdos, walked in a proud and vain manner twisting their shoulders. The Peace Chief was usually from this clan. *''Bird Clan'' (ᎠᏂᏥᏍᏆ (''a-ni-tsi-s-qua'') in Cherokee) were the keepers of the birds, skilled in using blowguns and snares for bird hunting. *''Paint Clan'' (ᎠᏂᏬᏗ (''a-ni-wo-di'') in Cherokee) made red paint and gathered the sacred colors used in the ceremonies. *''Deer Clan'' (ᎠᏂᎠᏫ (''a-ni-a-wi'') in Cherokee) were the keepers of the deer and were known as fast runners and deer hunters. *''Wild Potato (also Bear, Raccoon, or Blind Savannah) Clan'' (ᎠᏂᎦᏙᎨᏫ (''a-ni-ga-do-ge-wi'') in Cherokee) gathered the wild potato in swamps along streams for food. *''Wolf Clan'' (ᎠᏂᏩᏯ (''a-ni-wa-ya'') in Cherokee) was the largest and most prominent clan providing most of the tribe's war chiefs. They were keepers of the wolf and the only clan who could kill a wolf. The number "seven" was sacred to the Cherokee from ancient times. It represented the seven levels of spiritual attainment and the seven levels of material manifestation in the world of the Cherokee. It also represented the seven levels of the universe in Cherokee spiritual beliefs. The Cherokee had a matrilineal society, a social system in which their descent was traced strictly through their mother's side of the family. The most important man in the life of any Cherokee child was their mother's brother. Discipline and instruction in hunting and warfare rested not with the child's father, but with his maternal uncle. The clan provided many important functions including care for orphans and the destitute, and hospitality for visiting clan members from other towns. This practice was referred to as Gadugi in ancient times. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Cherokee society」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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