PONG Mountain Ram Kachina

PONG, the Mountain Ram Kachina

is believed to have the power to cure ills and bring rain.  Pong appears in the Hopi Plaza Dance as a group, as a herd of mountain rams, and typically dances with a cane.  This large Hopi Mountain Ram Kachina, PONG, is one of many kachina dolls in the Turquoise Spirit Journey Private Collection.

Beauty of PONG

This kachina doll PONG is in excellent shape with elegant forward body movement of the arms, upward angle of the head, large curled spiral ram horns and bent legs as though the kachina doll was photographed dancing in mid-stride.  Even with all the dynamic forward movement, the doll has perfect balance, standing on its own, on the 3”-3 ½” block of wood.  As you take a closer look, you can see all the beautiful symbolic detail in the markings, ornamentation of feathers, colorful yarn, double strand of beads, clothing and variety of beautiful native colors.

Beautifully distinguishing details

Pong is distinguished by the large curled mountain rams horns on top of a blue mask.  Pong has a black snout, red lips and teeth showing.  Rosettes are painted on the cheeks, yarn squash blosom ears with a visor around the top of the mask.  The body is painted blue with intricate designs on the chest, arms and legs, arm bands, a double strand necklace, fringed red mocassins, and a white kilt with red and black borders.

Three Aspects of a Kachina

For the Hopi, a Kachina has three aspects; the supernatural being, the masked Hopi dancer and the dolls.  Each Kachina has a purpose.  The supernatural being is the spirit of the Hopi.  The Hopi dancers wear the masks and decorations of the supernatural spirits in the Hopi Plaza.  The dolls are the teaching tools made in the likeness of the dancers of the supernatural spirit.

Forces of Nature

Kachinas represent the forces of nature, human, animal, plant, and act as intermediaries between the world of humans and the gods. Kachinas play an important part in the seasonal ceremonies of the Hopi. They represent generations of traditions that have been passed on and are the subject of a number of books.

TIHU

Small kachina dolls, called tihu in Hopi, are given to children to introduce the child to what each of the kachinas look like. The dolls are carved representations of the katsinam, the spirits essences of their ancestors, animals, plants, nature, all that is within the Hopi universe.

Traditionally, kachina dolls are created by Hopi or Zuni artists, and sometimes by the Navajo.

You will see a variety of spellings for Kachina, also known as Katchinas, Katcinas, Katsinas, Kat’sina. Kachina is typically the English spelling, while Katsina is Hopi.

For more information on kachina dolls, as well as other Southwest Native Indian Art, visit Turquoise Spirit Journey.