Sefdaanian Ethnography Chapter 9 - Art

Art Forms

Music – kűmo

• In the Chronicle of Creation (ṗuta̋s þa̋no) it is narrated that with the creation of each of the Six Peoples, Yumu, to whom be all due reverence, sang a song into the ear of each of the first beings. This creative song has instilled in the Six Peoples a love of and ability for music. As each of the loquent peoples came into being, the Ethrans shared with them the instruments that would work best in that part of the world assigned to them. Each of the Peoples would go on to develop its own style of music and instrumentation.
• The Ethrans, in the 25,765 years before the creation of the Pyrans, investigated the world into which they had been placed, and learned much about music, adopting the hexatonic scale.
• Experimenting with the production of sound they classified their musical instruments into one of six categories, a system called rúnšenı̋da (six-sound-array). Each instrument was associated with one category primarily, though it might contain elements of several others.

1. The first category is that of voice (ȝe̋ko), associated with winter (he̋ma) and the north (kűða).
2. The second category is that of clay (de̋iho) associated with spring (kı̋ða) and the east (ą̋usa).
3. The third category is that of reed (rűli) associated with early summer (ke̋sa) and the zenith (gőxa).
4. The fourth category is that of hide (ǧı̨̋no) associated with summer (lę̋ta) and the south (lűɱa).
5. The fifth category is that of wood (mą̋to) associated with autumn (kų̋ra) and the west (ɱe̋sa).
6. The sixth category is that of stone (tą̋ino) associated with the early winter (ı̨̋fa) and the nadir (peðbőto).

• Drums (tűmo) are used by some of the Peoples for marking time. These drums are made in a variety of sizes and out of a variety of materials. The shells (tumkőmto) are always made of wood. The membranes (e̋ċo) are made of the hide of various animals: reindeer, goat, camel, horse, etc. Thicker hides, such as horse or wisent, produce a deeper tone than thinner hides, such as goat or saiga. The drums may be single or double headed. The wood can be bent after being soaked for a while in boiling water. The membranes can be attached to the frame either by sinew, string, or leather thongs. Some drums are played by hand and some by a beater (mume̋ᵹo). The beaters are made of wood, bone, or antler.

1. Knowing their vocal skills, long before experimenting with instrumentation, the Ethrans forewent any musical instruments as special to them. They, instead, chose the voice as their primary instrument. That is, until they invented glass and discovered that vibrating glass made a pleasant sound. So they invented the glass harmonica (helnëkűmlo) in the form of spinning glass bowls. Twenty-four glass bowls, graduated in size, are attached to a spindle. The spindle is turned by the operation of a foot pedal. The range of the instrument is the four octaves from bass C to soprano C, c to c’’’. The Ethrans do not use drums.
2. The Pyrans were given the rivers and their alluvial plains as their home. Once familiar with their home, they were presented with an array of musical instruments from which to choose. They chose an aerophone, the ocarina (benče̋ȝo), to be fashioned from the clay (be̋no) of the riverbanks. These ocarinas are made in different sizes to sound different voices. All the Pyrans play the ocarina. Children are taught from an early age to play the ocarina. The men take their ocarinas with them when they take the reindeer to pasture.
3. The Hydorans were given the lakes, ponds, and marshes as their home. Once familiar with their home, they were presented with an array of musical instruments from which to choose. They chose another aerophone, the syrinx (ne̋do), to be fashioned from the reeds (rűli) of the marshes. These syringes are made in different sizes to sound different voices. They can be made with one or two rows of pipes. The reeds are tied together with cord made from the cattail. The Hydorans do not use drums. They do, however, make rattles (ra̋xlo) from gourds.
4. The Humans were given the steppes as their home. Once familiar with their home, the Ethrans presented them with an array of musical instruments from which to choose. They chose the mouth bow (ǫsa̋nko), the strings and the bow to be fashioned from horsehair. The large drums may be played only by the men. The women play the handheld drums.
5. The Xylans were given the forests as their home. Once familiar with their home, the Ethrans presented them with an array of musical instruments from which to choose. They chose to carve flutes (čeȝőᵹlo) from the branches of trees. These flutes can be either fipple (túlčeȝőᵹlo) or edge-blown (túvčeȝőᵹlo). They also carve small whistles (če̋ȝo). Often the approach of a Xylan can be heard before he is seen. The Xylans make large slit drums (rąþtűmo) from fallen trees. They often use them for communication.
6. The Lithans were given the mountains as their home. Once familiar with their home, the Ethrans presented them with an array of musical instruments from which to choose. They choose to make a variety of percussion instruments from metal and stone. Most notable is the great lithophone (tainkűmlo) which occupies a central position on the village green (kunta̋rƶo) of every kı̋lo. The Lithans have no need of drums.

Musical pitch is notated by marks over or under the vowel.

sT T ST sD D SD sT A♯ C D E F♯ G♯ A♯ ȧ a̅ á ä a̿̅ a̋ ȧ

Plastic Arts

• In the area of the plastic arts, each of the Six Peoples developed a skill appropriate to the environment in which they live.
  • 1. The Ethrans excel in calligraphy (govȝa̋ra).
  • 2. Using the hair from their reindeer, the Pyrans have developed skill in weaving (ɱevų̋ra), making both woolen fabric and tapestries.
  • '3. With the same reeds used to make the syrinx the Hydorans weave baskets (gormų̋ra) and other artifacts.
  • 4. The Humans work in leather (kǫnų̋ra) obtained from their horses and various animals of the steppes: aurochs, wisent, saiga, etc.
  • 5. The Xylans excel in wood carving (laðų̋ra).
  • 6. The Lithans make exquisite jewelry (ṅemų̋ra), as well as bronze items.
• Ethran, Pyran, Hydoran, Human and Lithan women embroider (f̣ukų̋ra). The designs are of the beautiful things of nature, such as flowers, birds, and butterflies.

Totems – ma̋ȝes, ma̋ȝis

• In pre-industrial cultures great reliance is placed upon non-loquent beings for help in accomplishing the daily tasks of life. Certain animals or plants play a key role in these tasks. Because of the dependence of loquent beings on these non-loquent beings, an aura of spirituality is given them and they are seen as somehow more than just animals or plants and become symbols of Yumu’s protection of them. The most important of those animals are those that serve many purposes: steeds, draft animals, food sources, protection.
• Each of the Loquent Peoples has chosen one of these animals as a symbol of Yumu’s protection of and care for them.
  • 1. The Ethran ma̋ȝe is the great eagle (†Haliaëtus rex) (őre).
  • 2. The Pyran ma̋ȝe is the reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) (ɱa̋ce).
  • 3. The Hydoran ma̋ȝe is the fish eagle (†Aquila gigantea) (ḳűne).
  • 4. The Human ma̋ȝe is the horse (Equus przewalskii) (mőre).
  • 5. Not having a steed, the ma̋ȝi of the Xylans is the oak tree (Quercus robur) (pe̋rk̬i), symbolic of the nuts which are a major food of the Xylans.
  • 6. The ma̋ȝe of the Lithans is the tur (Capra caucasica) (kı̋te).

Vexillology - paðsą̋ra

Color symbolism

• With the creation of each of the Peoples, they were assigned one of the six colors of the spectrum as a symbol. The Ethrans took for themselves the color yellow (xűli) as symbolic of the atmosphere colored by a yellow sun.
• When they were created, the Pyrans were assigned the color orange (vı̋mi) as symbolic of the fire from which they were crafted.
• When they were created, the Hydorans were assigned the color blue (kǫ̋xi) as symbolic of the water from which they were crafted.
• When they were created, the Humans were assigned the color red (re̋uði) as symbolic of the earth from which they were crafted.
• When they were created, the Xylans were assigned the color green (ða̋li) as symbolic of the forest in which they live.
• When they were created, the Lithans were assigned the color violet (ɱı̋ȝi) as symbolic of the depths of the caves in which they work.

Symbology

• One of the art forms of the Sefdaanian culture is the use of emblems (siþṅa̋ro) to symbolize an individual. These emblems are rather like heraldic devices but are not used for genealogy. These emblems are usually displayed on a round background or field (kolpőno).

1. It is the birthright of every individual to bear an emblem as well as a name that distinguishes him or her from other individuals.
2. Upon the birth of the subject, the governing body of the pertinent community, in consultation with the parents, determines the emblem to be assigned to the subject. This is made official at the initiation rite when the subject is given a name.
3. In Sefdaanian symbology this sign pertains solely to the individual and does not proclaim descent.
4. Using the rainbow as the standard, the following colors are permitted in Sefdaanian symbology: red (re̋uði), orange (vı̋mi), yellow (xűli), green (ða̋li), blue (kǫ̋xi), purple (ɱı̋ȝi), black (šőrdi) and white (pa̋ȝi). The precise shade of the color is left to the discretion of the individual.
5. The emblem is usually displayed upon a roundel.
6. The field is of the People’s color with one of four white ordinaries (pale, fess, bend, bend sinister), upon which is centered the individual's emblem.
7. This emblem may also be flown as a flag or banner.
8. Each of the loquent peoples has an emblem which contains the totem of that people:
   1. The Ethrans: yellow, a great eagle displayed proper, on the breast the charge of the individual ðűno proper.
   2. The Pyrans: orange, a reindeer’s head caboshed proper; in chief the charge of the individual da̋bo.
   3. The Hydorans: blue, a fish eagle displayed proper, on the breast the charge of the individual ną̋do.
   4. The Xylans: green, an oak tree proper, fructed or, charged with the individual’s charge.
   5. The Humans: red, a horse’s head erased proper; in chief the charge of the individual ce̋iɱo.
   6. The Lithans: purple, a tur’s head caboshed proper, in chief the charge of the individual kı̋lo.

Flags

• Each of the Peoples and each of their settlements has a flag to distinguish itself. The design of these flags is controlled by Ȝumȝa̋ku Aurva̋tu, the mage of the arts. She is also the arbiter of disagreements about designs.
• The flag of a People or of a settlement is its emblem displayed on a white flag.
• The emblem consists of a light shade of the People’s color within a bordure of a darker shade. Upon the lighter shade is placed the emblem of the People or settlement.

Individual emblems

• The Ethrans
  • The color for the Ethrans is yellow.
  • The six mages place upon the yellow field a white pale charged with their emblem.
  • The twelve praetors place upon the yellow field a white fess charged with their emblem.
  • The thirty-six archons place upon the yellow field a white bend charged with their emblem.
  • The one hundred and forty-four adepts place upon the yellow field a white bend sinister charged with their emblem.
  • The seven hundred and twenty guardians place upon the yellow field a white pile charged with their emblem.
  • The four thousand three hundred and twenty ministers place upon the yellow field a white roundel charged with their emblem.
• The Pyrans
  • The color for the Pyrans is orange.
  • The Pyrans place upon the orange field a white ordinary.
  • A male places his individual charge upon a bend.
  • A female places her individual charge upon a bend sinister.
  • Upon assuming the leadership of a Pyran community, the individual will change the bend to a pale.
• The Hydorans
  • The Hydorans place upon the blue field a white ordinary.
  • A male places his individual charge upon a bend.
  • A female places her individual charge upon a bend sinister.
  • Upon assuming the leadership of a Hydoran community, the individual will change the bend to a pale.
• The Humans
  • The color for the Humans is red.
  • The Humans place upon the red field a white ordinary.
  • A male places his individual charge upon a bend.
  • A female places her individual charge upon a bend sinister.
  • Upon assuming the leadership of a Human community, the individual will change the bend to a pale.
• The Xylans
  • The color for the Xylans is green.
  • The Xylans place upon the green field a white ordinary.
  • The individual places his individual charge upon a bend.
  • The eldest of the Xylans places his charge upon a pale.
• The Lithans
  • The color for the LIthans is purple.
  • The Lithans place upon the purple field a white ordinary.
  • A male places his individual charge upon a bend.
  • A female places her individual charge upon a bend sinister.
  • Upon assuming the leadership of a Lithan community, the individual will change the bend to a pale.
• The Lemans
  • The color for the Lemans (le̋mu) is black.
  • The Lemans place upon the black field a white ordinary.
  • Tseliu places her charge, a griffin rampant guardant, upon a pale.
  • The two ravagers (ɱa̋stu) place their individual charges upon a fess.
  • The six specters (pǫ̋ugu) place their individual charges upon a bend.
  • The twenty-four destroyers (őlu) place their individual charges upon a bend sinister.
  • The one hundred and twenty scavengers (k̬ę̋rnu) place their individual charges upon a pile.
  • The seven hundred and twenty shades (nı̨̋zu) place their individual charges upon a roundel.

The Iris

• The iris (Iris spp.) is the symbol of the Six Loquent Peoples because it is widely distributed throughout the north temperate zone. The habitats are varied, ranging from cold and montane regions to the grassy slopes, meadowlands, steppes and riverbanks of the northern hemisphere. The iris has three petals and three sepals which symbolize the Six Loquent Peoples. They also come in a variety of colors, including the colors that represent the Six Loquent Peoples.
• Six irises (stylized as fleurs-de-lis), one of each color, in the canonical order (yellow, orange, blue, red, green, violet) are arranged at the ends of a six-spoked wheel. The hub of the wheel is a white fleur-de-lis, as viewed from above, denoting the Deity. The spokes of the wheel are gold as are the bands around the irises denoting the Deity reaching out and embracing the Peoples.

Body art

• Only the Lithans tattoo (tűpa) their bodies. It is forbidden to tattoo the forehead as that is the place where a tatto denoting a crime is placed.
• Body piercing are unknown to the Peoples. They have, however, been taken up by the Lemans (sundered people).
• Neither the Ethran nor the Hydoran males have facial hair. The men of all the other Peoples have facial hair. In all cases, the beard is kept trimmed and not allowed to grow long.
• Cosmetics (turtę̋rt̬i) are used by all females but the Hydorans. A type of lipstick (femtę̋rt̬i) is made from a concoction of beeswax and pigments. However, the only pigments used are reddish ones. The men use beeswax in the winter as a chapstick. Rouge (castę̋rt̬i) is used but not eye shadow. Perfumes are made by adding flower scent to oil. These cosmetics are typically used when celebrating the yearly festivals and at weddings.