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Tuvaluan mythology tells stories of the creation of the islands of Tuvalu and of the founding ancestors of each island. While on some of the islands there are stories of spirits creating the islands, a creation story that is found on many of the islands is that ''te Pusi mo te Ali'' (the Eel and the Flounder) created the islands of Tuvalu; ''te Ali'' (the flounder) is believed to be the origin of the flat atolls of Tuvalu and the ''te Pusin'' (the Eel) is the model for the coconut palms that are important in the lives of Tuvaluans. The strength of this belief has the consequence that Moray eel is ''tapu'' and is not eaten. ==Origin myths of the people of Tuvalu== The reef islands and atolls of Tuvalu are identified as being part of West Polynesia. During pre-European-contact times there was frequent canoe voyaging between the islands as Polynesian navigation skills are recognised to have allowed deliberate journeys on double-hull sailing canoes or outrigger canoes. The pattern of settlement that is believed to have occurred is that the Polynesians spread out from Tonga and the Samoan Islands into the Tuvaluan atolls. The distinct linguistic areas that have been recognised in the islands of Tuvalu shows that the Tongan influence is stronger in the northern islands of Nanumea and Nanumaga rather than in the south. The stories as to the ancestors of the Tuvaluans vary from island to island. On some of the islands there are stories of spirits creating the island, however a creation story that is found on many of the islands is that ''te Pusi mo te Ali'' (the Eel and the Flounder) created the islands of Tuvalu.〔 The voyaging ancestors brought the myths from their islands of origin, with these stories being adapted to over time to become the mythology of Tuvalu. Each island has stories as to the origins of their ancestors. On Funafuti and Vaitupu the founding ancestor is described as being as Telematua (or Telemaiatua), a giant from Samoa;〔Donald G. Kennedy, ("Field Notes on the Culture of Vaitupu, Ellice Islands" ), ''Journal of the Polynesian Society'', vol.38, 1929, pp.2-5〕 whereas on Nanumea the founding ancestor is described as being from Tonga, although Nanumea also has links to Tokelau.〔 On Nukufetau the ancestors are described as being from Tonga. On Nanumea the ancestor is described as Tefolaha, who was part human, part spirit from Tonga;〔 on Nanumaga the founding ancestor is described as Tepuhi, a spirit with the shape of a sea-serpent, who came originally from Fiji, although there are other creation stories that are told on Nanumaga that have links to Tonga and Samoa. The creation story told on Nui describes a group of spirits raising the eleven islets of Nui from the ocean floor and the ancestors arrived from Samoa on a canoe named ''Vakatiumalie''. The captain of the canoe was Peau, a man from Manono Island. On Niutao the understanding is that their ancestors came from Samoa in the 12th or 13th century. Niutaon mythology tells the story of the people who first inhabited the island: “The first inhabitants of Niutao were half spirit and half human beings who lived at Mulitefao. Their leader was Kulu who took the form of a woman. The first human settlers came from Samoa in a canoe captained by a man called Mataika. He settled at Tamana on the eastern side of the island, where winds swept the spray of the surf over the reef.” In 1896 Professor Professor William Sollas went to Funafuti as the leader of the ''Funafuti Coral Reef Boring Expedition of the Royal Society''; Prof. Sollas subsequently published ''The Legendary History of Funafuti''. 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「Tuvaluan mythology」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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