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Among the Lakota people, the heyoka (''heyókȟa'', also spelled "haokah," "heyokha") is a contrarian, jester, satirist or sacred clown. The heyoka speaks, moves and reacts in an opposite fashion to the people around them. Only those having visions of the thunder beings of the west, the Wakinyan, and who are recognized as such by the community, can take on the ceremonial role of the heyoka. The Lakota holy man and medicine man, Black Elk, became heyoka after being visited by the Thunder- beings, the Wakinyan (Thunderbirds). ==Social role== ''Heyókȟa'' are thought of as being backwards-forwards, upside-down, or contrary in nature. This manifests by doing things backwards or unconventionally — riding a horse backwards, wearing clothes inside-out, or speaking in a backwards language. For example, if food is scarce, a ''heyókȟa'' may sit around and complain about how full he is; during a baking hot heat wave a ''heyókȟa'' might shiver with cold and put on gloves and cover himself with a thick blanket. Similarly, when it is freezing he might wander around naked complaining that it is too hot. A unique example is the famous ''heyókȟa'' sacred clown called "the Straighten-Outer": The ''heyókȟa'' symbolize and portray many aspects of the sacred, the Wakȟáŋ. Their satire presents important questions by fooling around. They ask difficult questions, and say things others are too afraid to say. By reading between the lines, the audience is able to think about things not usually thought about, or to look at things in a different way. Principally, the ''heyókȟa'' functions both as a mirror and a teacher, using extreme behaviors to mirror others, thereby forcing them to examine their own doubts, fears, hatreds, and weaknesses. ''heyókȟa'' also have the power to heal emotional pain; such power comes from the experience of shame — they sing of shameful events in their lives, beg for food, and live as clowns. They provoke laughter in distressing situations of despair and provoke fear and chaos when people feel complacent and overly secure, to keep them from taking themselves too seriously or believing they are more powerful than they are. In addition, sacred clowns serve an important role in shaping tribal codes. Unbound by societal constraints, ''heyókȟa'' are able to freely violate cultural taboos and critique established customs. Paradoxically, however, it is by violating these norms and taboos that they help to define the accepted boundaries, rules, and societal guidelines for ethical and moral behavior. This is because they are the only ones who can ask "Why?" about sensitive topics and employ satire to question the specialists and carriers of sacred knowledge or those in positions of power and authority. 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「heyoka」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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