The society has religious and political as well as social objectives.[1] It represents a form of law and order through its presiding spirits. In ritual dances, members of the society invoke the male spirit duk duk and female spirit tubuan depending on which mask the dancer wears.[2] The dancers are always male despite the fact that some are performing the role of female spirits.[2] Women and children were forbidden to look at these figures.[3] Both types of mask are cone-shaped and are constructed of cane and fibre, with short, bushy capes of leaves. Traditionally the duk duk was taller than the tubuan and was faceless. The tubuan had circular eyes and a crescent-shaped mouth painted on a dark background. In addition to the mask, leaves cover the torso of the dancers so that only their legs are visible.[2]
Only males could belong to Duk-Duk, with an entrance fee (in dewarra, small cowry shells strung on strips of cane, often 100 metres or more).
The society has its secret signs and rituals, and festivals which were in past times closed to strangers on pain of death. Duk-Duk only appeared with the full moon.[1]
Justice was executed, fines extorted, taboos, feasts, taxes and all tribal matters arranged by the Duk-Duk members, wearing masks or chalk on their faces. In carrying out punishments, they were allowed to burn houses and even kill people.[1] Dancers wearing the tubuan masks were regarded as divine beings whose judgment and actions could not be questioned.[4]
The society's practice has been dying out since around the start of the 20th century, but Duk-Duk dancers are now featured as tourist attraction.
Sources and referencesedit
Wikisource has original text related to this article:
Popular Science Monthly/Volume 38/December 1890/The Duk-Duk Ceremonies
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Duk-Duk.
^ abcOne or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Duk-Duk". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 8 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 650.
^ abcD'Alleva, Anne (1998). Arts of the Pacific Islands. New Haven: Yale University Press. ISBN978-0-300-16412-1.
^"Christmas, Costumes and Ceremonies". Auckland Museum Blog. Retrieved March 20, 2014.
^Salisbury, Richard Frank (1970). Vunamami: Economic Transformation in a Traditional Society. Los Angeles: University of California Press. ISBN9780520016477.
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Vicariate Apostolic of New Pomerania". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
Duk-Duk and other Customs or Forms of Expression of the Melanesians Intellectual Life, by Graf von Pfeil in "Journal of Anthropology"
H. Romilly, The Western Pacific and New Guinea (London, 1886)pp 27–33
External linksedit
Duk Duk ceremony photograph, Gazelle Peninsula, New Britain Real photo postcard, c 1920
March 07, 2024
secret, society, part, traditional, culture, tolai, people, rabaul, area, britain, largest, island, bismarck, archipelago, papua, guinea, south, pacific, dancers, gazelle, peninsula, britain, 1913description, edit, nbsp, painting, dance, joachim, pfeil, publis. Duk Duk is a secret society part of the traditional culture of the Tolai people of the Rabaul area of New Britain the largest island in the Bismarck Archipelago of Papua New Guinea in the South Pacific Duk Duk dancers in the Gazelle Peninsula New Britain 1913Description edit nbsp Painting of a Duk Duk dance by Joachim von Pfeil published 1899The society has religious and political as well as social objectives 1 It represents a form of law and order through its presiding spirits In ritual dances members of the society invoke the male spirit duk duk and female spirit tubuan depending on which mask the dancer wears 2 The dancers are always male despite the fact that some are performing the role of female spirits 2 Women and children were forbidden to look at these figures 3 Both types of mask are cone shaped and are constructed of cane and fibre with short bushy capes of leaves Traditionally the duk duk was taller than the tubuan and was faceless The tubuan had circular eyes and a crescent shaped mouth painted on a dark background In addition to the mask leaves cover the torso of the dancers so that only their legs are visible 2 Only males could belong to Duk Duk with an entrance fee in dewarra small cowry shells strung on strips of cane often 100 metres or more The society has its secret signs and rituals and festivals which were in past times closed to strangers on pain of death Duk Duk only appeared with the full moon 1 Justice was executed fines extorted taboos feasts taxes and all tribal matters arranged by the Duk Duk members wearing masks or chalk on their faces In carrying out punishments they were allowed to burn houses and even kill people 1 Dancers wearing the tubuan masks were regarded as divine beings whose judgment and actions could not be questioned 4 The society s practice has been dying out since around the start of the 20th century but Duk Duk dancers are now featured as tourist attraction Sources and references edit nbsp Wikisource has original text related to this article Popular Science Monthly Volume 38 December 1890 The Duk Duk Ceremonies nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Duk Duk a b c nbsp One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Chisholm Hugh ed 1911 Duk Duk Encyclopaedia Britannica Vol 8 11th ed Cambridge University Press p 650 a b c D Alleva Anne 1998 Arts of the Pacific Islands New Haven Yale University Press ISBN 978 0 300 16412 1 Christmas Costumes and Ceremonies Auckland Museum Blog Retrieved March 20 2014 Salisbury Richard Frank 1970 Vunamami Economic Transformation in a Traditional Society Los Angeles University of California Press ISBN 9780520016477 nbsp This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Herbermann Charles ed 1913 Vicariate Apostolic of New Pomerania Catholic Encyclopedia New York Robert Appleton Company Duk Duk and other Customs or Forms of Expression of the Melanesians Intellectual Life by Graf von Pfeil in Journal of Anthropology H Romilly The Western Pacific and New Guinea London 1886 pp 27 33External links editDuk Duk ceremony photograph Gazelle Peninsula New Britain Real photo postcard c 1920 Hotel featuring DukDuk ceremony for guests Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Duk Duk amp oldid 1049185305, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
