PUREPECHA CULTURE: CHARACTERISTICS, ORIGINS, TRADITIONS - HISTORY - 2024

The Purépecha culture or Tarascan culture was a pre-Columbian culture of Mexico that settled mainly in the region of the state of Michoacán. It was known to the Spanish conquerors as the Tarascan culture. Its origins are very uncertain; the Purepecha culture, unlike the Aztecs, did not leave documentary records.

However, the Spanish missionaries who evangelized Tarascans considered it to be a superior culture. The best source of historical information found is the Relationship of Michoacán; This was a document probably handwritten by the Spanish Franciscan friar Jerónimo de Alcalá, around 1538.

Purépecha people. Fray Jerónimo de Alcalá (1540)

The main activity of the Tarascans was agriculture and gathering food, and they were also good hunters and fishermen. This last activity was favored by its geographical location close to lakes and islands. In the same way, they were excellent craftsmen in various materials.

They also stood out for their metallurgical skills; experts say they were the most advanced in Mexico. They were also advanced in ceramics, highlighting both the domestic utilitarian (articles of daily use) and their funerary ceramics with exotic designs.

The Purepecha culture was fundamental for the Spanish. During Hernán Cortés' campaign against the Aztecs, the Tarascans allied themselves with the conquerors. Today the Tarascans experience a slow process of assimilation into the dominant mestizo culture of Mexico, but there are very few monolingual people in the Tarascan language.

Despite being conservative, the traditional Tarascan costume is disappearing. Most men wear denim work clothes and wool jackets. Felt hats are reserved for special occasions.

For their part, many women wear cotton dresses. Over the years, the traditional female costume has undergone modifications, although they maintain the use of shawl, peasant blouse, skirt and huipil (overcoat or tunic).

Origins and history

Ornamenta purépecha

Although it is not confirmed, some specialists assure that the Purépecha culture flourished from 1100 to 1530 AD. Others affirm that it was in the period between 1200 and 1600 AD. C.

In an effort to determine the origin of the Purépecha culture, scholars of the matter have relied on its language and its crafts. Thus, linguistic similarities between the Purépecha and the Quechua language of South America have been observed.

They have also found the same matches in Tarascan pottery styles and metalworking techniques. These techniques, according to the experts, were not previously known in Mexico.

Based on this evidence, there are theories that place the origin of the Purépecha culture in South America, among the Incas. Then they would have emigrated to Central America to settle in the same area as the Aztecs.

Aztecs and Tarascans

The Aztecs tried more than once to conquer the Tarascan lands, but they never reached their goal; this made them irreconcilable rivals. Cortés took advantage of this to incorporate the Tarascans as allies in his war against the Aztecs.

Two years after the fall of Tenochtitlan (1520), the Spanish attacked the Tarascans. The last Tarascan king offered little resistance. Once he submitted, all the other Tarascan kingdoms surrendered peacefully.

After being dominated, the Spanish Crown appointed Vasco de Quiroga to govern the Tarascan villages. Quiroga organized them by the type of crafts; this organization of artistic specialization persists today.

Characteristics of the purepechas

From various points of view, it is considered that the Purepecha people were an advanced civilization during the pre-Hispanic period of Mexico. They dedicated themselves to numerous trades such as architecture, painting, goldsmithing and fishing.

Already in the 15th century, they dominated the handling of metal, which in the long run meant the opening of several commercial relationships.

Cultural expansion

They managed to expand their culture throughout Mesoamerica until the middle of the year 1,500, when the arrival of the Spanish meant the almost immediate disappearance of the Empire.

Despite having fought many battles with the Aztec Empire (which could never conquer it), the Spanish Empire did manage to subdue them.

Although its culture and population managed to survive, much of its infrastructure was destroyed and its rulers assassinated.

Customs and traditions

Like most Mexican civilizations, they had numerous customs related to the cult of the natural elements that surrounded them.

Corn being his favorite food, it was considered good luck to plant corn of various colors and accompany them with beans in order to have a good harvest season and prosperity for the rest of the year.

Religion

Polytheistic in character, they believed that the universe was divided into three large parts: heaven, earth and the underworld.

Three deities rose above the others:

- Curicaveri, god of war and the sun, to whom human sacrifices were made and whose symbol was the birds of prey.

-His wife Cuerauáper i, goddess of creation, to whom rain, life, death and drought were attributed.

-The daughter of these, Xaratanga, goddess of the moon and the ocean.

Language

The Purépecha language is extremely atypical, since it has no linguistic relationship with any of the other dialects spoken by other Mexican populations and civilizations of the same period.

Four geographical varieties are recognized that cover several areas of Michoacán, the Sierra, the lake area, the Cañada and the Ciénaga. It is also known as the Tarasco language. In 2015 there were just over 140,000 people who spoke it.

Contribution to Mexican culture

His different cults to the elements, to life and death, have had an impact on notable Mexican traditions that continue to this day.

For the burials of loved ones they used to do a ceremonial act where the deceased was cremated and buried with their clothes, personal items and even members of their servants.

Geographical location and territory

Tzintzuntzan

The heyday of the Purépechas occurred between the 15th and 16th centuries, when the Purépecha Empire encompassed not only Michoacán, but also some parts of Jalisco and Guanajuato.

Today they have expanded to other states of the Mexican nation such as Jalisco, Guerrero and Baja California, as well as several smaller towns in the United States and Canada.

Pre-Columbian period

The area in which the Tarascans lived was distinguished by its high volcanic plateaus and lakes. From their capital, Tzintzuntzan, the Tarascans came to control an empire of more than 75,000 km².

The Tarascan capital was the largest population settlement. This was located in the northeast arm of Lake Pátzcuaro. From there, the Tarascans also controlled some 90 more cities around the lake, through a highly centralized and hierarchical political system.

In 1522 (present-day) the population of the lake basin was around 80,000, while Tzintzuntzan had a population of 35,000. This capital was the administrative, commercial and religious center of the Tarascan Empire, and seat of the king or cazonci.

Present

The Purépechas live mainly in the Mexican state of Michoacán. They are known as Michoacas or Michoacanos. They also live in the states of Guanajuato and Guerrero.

Today the Purépecha culture is a cultural mosaic of Tarascan-Mexican and Spanish-Mexican (mestizo) peoples. They settle in a Tarascan ethnic nucleus made up of three contiguous subareas.

These subareas begin with the island's communities and the shore of Lake Pátzcuaro. Next, you have the forests of the highlands to the west of Lake Pátzcuaro; This area is known as Sierra Purépecha or Tarasca plateau.

The trio closes with the small valley of the Duero River, north of the Purépecha plateau, called La cañada de los eleven pueblos, a Spanish translation of the eraxamani, in Purhépecha.

Currently there are Tarascan groups that have migrated, these have settled in other states of Mexico, such as Jalisco, Guanajuato and Guerrero.

They can also be found in Mexico City, Colima, and Baja California, and have even established themselves in the United States. Similarly, there are Michoacan communities in other countries such as Canada and Greenland.

Traditions

Purepecha music

The Purépecha or Tarascan culture has several traditions. Some of the most relevant are described below:

Day of the Dead

The Day of the Dead is celebrated on November 2; however, in some areas the celebrations begin on October 31st.

During these days, family and friends sleep in cemeteries where the remains of their relatives rest. The tombstones are adorned with candles, flower arrangements, plates of food and typical sweets.

Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe

The Purépecha culture celebrates this day on September 12. The Virgin of Guadalupe is the patron saint of Mexico. In her honor, dances, parades and masses are held, among other activities.

Dance of the Old Men

This is a dance of pre-Hispanic origin performed in honor of the gods of the aborigines (the god of fire, time, the sun, among others). It is usually performed by the Purépechas of Pátzcuaro and Michoacán.

The dancers wear corn husk masks. These masks are painted with smiling old faces.

It is an aboriginal dance that constitutes a prayer to the gods. The dancers ask to enjoy good health even in old age.

Epiphany Day

It is also called Three Kings Day and is celebrated on January 6. During this day the arrival of the three Wise Men to Bethlehem is commemorated. Following this tradition, in Michoacán children receive gifts for the epiphany.

Candlemas day

Candlemas Day is celebrated on February 2, and the main gastronomic activity is eating tamales.

Carnival

Carnival is held on Mondays and Tuesdays before Ash Wednesday. In Michoacán there are attractions fairs, gastronomic fairs, contests, concerts, parades and rodeos, among other events.

Holy Week

During this week religious rituals are performed to remember the passion of Christ. The celebration of the Via Crucis and the midnight masses are common.

Independence Day

Independence Day is celebrated on September 16. In Michoacán there are parades through the main streets of the state.

Day of the Holy Innocents

It is commemorated on December 28 to remember the mass murder of children that King Herod ordered after the birth of Jesus. On this day it is common to make fun of people.

Religion

Like most Mesoamerican cultures, the Tarascan was polytheistic. Their main god was Curicaueri (god of fire); This is considered the oldest Tarascan deity.

The supreme high priest, head of a priestly class, was in charge of directing the religion. They believed that the Pátzcuaro basin was the center of the cosmos and that the universe had three parts: heaven, earth, and the underworld.

Among the other deities venerated by the Tarascans, the following stand out:

Cuerauáperi or Kuerajperi

She is Curicaueri's wife and represents the Moon. It is both mother and father of all gods.

Xaratanga (the one that is everywhere)

It is an invocation of the Moon or Cuerauáperi, lady or mother moon or new moon.

Cuerauáperi or mother

She is the deity of childbirth and wife of the main god.

Tata Jurhiata (Sun Father)

It is the name that the natives give to the sun of Michoacán, not to the deity.

Ceremonial centers

Ihuatzio is an archaeological site located on the southern slope of the Tariaqueri hill. The city was founded by the Purépecha culture to be used as an astronomical observatory and ceremonial center. Ihuatzio means "place of coyotes."

It was located on the southern shore of Lake Pátzcuaro, in the municipality of Tzintzuntzan. Ihuatzio has important monuments from the pre-Hispanic era, highlighting the pyramids dedicated to Curicaueri and Xaratanga.

During archaeological excavations, vestiges of two human settlements in different periods have been found. The first is recorded between 900 and 1200 (it was current); This first occupation corresponded to groups of Nahuatl language speakers.

On the other hand, the second occupation occurred between 1200 and 1530 (current era). According to specialists, in this period the maximum development of the Purépecha culture was reached.

Ihuatzio was built on an artificially leveled plateau, and is considered very important to the pre-Hispanic history of Michoacán. Although relatively small, the pyramids found are remarkable for their design.

A sculpture representing a chac mool (a characteristic element of the Toltec culture) was also found, as well as a series of paths and walls that surround the site.

Architecture

The most characteristic architectural elements of the Purépecha or Tarascan culture are the following:

Yácatas

They are buildings whose base combines a rectangle with a semicircle. These constructions are characteristic of some Tarascan cities of the 15th and 16th centuries. They had a ladder embedded in the center of the rectangular body.

Yácatas walls

The yácatas walls were built with horizontal slabs that covered a core of rock and earth. The exterior cladding consisted of janamus blocks (slabs with engraved motifs).

Walled driveways or

The uatziris consisted of a structure built on a core of rock and earth covered by stone slabs. They surrounded a large part of the settlement, and had the dual function of controlling the road and the entrance.

Platforms

The platforms were the rectangular bases on which the yácatas were based. They were built with a core of earth and stone. They were also covered with cementless stone slabs.

The king's road

They were walkways approximately 250 m long by 20 wide, and more than 5 m high. They were built with a flattened earth floor and were delimited by curbs.

It is believed that they served the cazonci (Tarascan name for ruler) to move from the ceremonial center to different points of the structure.

lookout

This was a cylinder-shaped circular base construction; it was supposed to serve as an observatory of the cosmos. There are no other similar structures in all of Michoacán.

Social organization

Tarascan society was stratified into nobles, commoners, and slaves. According to the Relationship of Michoacán, the Purépecha nobility was divided into three groups: royalty, superior and inferior nobility.

Priests and military

The priests and the military leaders occupied the superior nobility, they belonged to the ruling class. Traders, artisans, farmers, and the common and free people made up the dominated class.

Royalty

The royalty resided in the capital and in the sacred city of Ihuatzio. The cazonci or irecha was the highest ruler, he was the head of the political organization of the Purepecha culture. Among his attributions was naming his relatives as chiefs of the towns within his kingdom.

The position of cazonci was hereditary. Upon the death of the current ruler, he was succeeded by the eldest son. The government of the Purépecha culture was monarchical and theocratic.

Craftsmen

Another important part of the social organization were the artisans. These were known for their jewelry made of silver, gold, bronze, copper, and turquoise.

Commerce was fundamental to the Purépecha culture. This allowed them to control the Aztecs and keep them at bay after the continuous conflicts between them.

Articles of interest

Economic activities of the Purépechas.

House of the Purépechas.

References

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