Chamorro Culture - Guampedia

Show of respect for elder or clan leader. Freycinet collection from the Guam Public Library System.

Ancient Guam Era

Manachang

In the social organization of Chamorro/CHamoru society, individuals from the lowest class were known as manachang. In her study of early CHamoru culture, anthropologist Laura

Agriculture on Guam. Freycinet collection, 1824. Courtesy of the Guam Public Library System.

Chamorro Culture

Mannakhilo’ and Mannakpåpa’

Under Spanish colonial rule, the introduction of Spanish customs, social systems and land tenure disrupted traditional practices of land ownership and social class structure of

San Vitores, center, was killed along with Pedro Calungsod after the missionary baptized CHamoru/Chamorro Chief Matå'pang's daughter without his consent. In this illustration Matå'pang and Hirao are portrayed as evil savages.

Chamorro Culture

Matå’pang: Evolution of the Term

Evolution of the term. Matå’pang is a Chamorro/CHamoru word currently used to describe a person who is acting careless, rude or stupid. It is a

Ancient Guam: Religion

Animism

Ancient religious philosophy. Animism is the belief that everything in nature – living and non-living – contains a spirit or soul. In ancient CHamoru society,

Fu'una, goddess of creation and sister of Puntan, gave life to the earth and humanity. I Tinituhon, Guampedia

Chamorro Culture

Mythological Depictions of Women

Source of life. Ancient Chamorros/Chamorus believed that women held the power of life and controlled the environment.

Chamorro Culture

Physical Anthropology of Ancient Guam and the Mariana Islands

Of the different regional groups of the Pacific, the physical anthropology of the peoples of Micronesia is probably the least studied. While archeologists have collected

Ancient Guam Era

Matao and Acha’ot

Early accounts of traditional Chamorro/CHamoru society describe at least two distinct social castes—the chamorri, or upper caste, and the manachang, or lower caste. The chamorri

Women are shown smoking tobacco near a shrine. One is carrying a bamboo water container and another is with a child. Illustration from the collection of Dumont d’Urville. Micronesian Seminar (MicSem)

Chamorro Culture

CHamoru/Chamorro Women’s Legacy of Leadership

CHamoru women have a legacy of leadership that helped keep the culture and history of their people alive. The earliest accounts of ancient CHamoru society

Ancient Guam Era

Social Classes in Traditional CHamoru/Chamorro Society

The social ranking of individuals, whether by age, gender or social status, has always been important in Chamorro society. In pre-Spanish times, social status dictated

Guma' Uritao. Image courtesy of Bess Press, Inc.

Ancient Guam Era

Fino’ Gualåfon: Moonlight Talk

Fino’ gualåfon was a style of language developed and used by young bachelors in ancient CHamoru society. The term fino’ gualåfon translates as follows: “fino’”