Atua are the gods and spirits of the Polynesian peoples such as the Māori or the Hawaiians (see also Kupua); the Polynesian word literally means "power" or "strength" and so the concept is similar to that of mana. Today, it is also used for the monotheistic conception of God. Especially powerful atua included:[1]

In Samoa, where atua means "god" in the Samoan language,[2] traditional tattooing was based on the doctrine of tutelary spirits.[3] There is also a district on the island of Upolu in Samoa called Atua.

Atua or gods were also the center of Māori religion. In Māori belief, there was no such word as "religion" because the natural and supernatural world were one.[4]

In other Austronesian cultures, cognates of atua include the Polynesian aitu, Micronesian aniti, Bunun hanitu, Filipino and Tao anito, and Malaysian and Indonesian hantu or antu.[5]

In popular culture, Atua is the name that is used to refer to the deity which the character Angie Yonaga worships in the English dub of Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony. Angie's character has broad Polynesian design elements, and was given a strong accent in the English dub. The term "Atua" has become largely associated with the character within Western pop culture.[6]

See also

References

  1. ↑ George, Vensus A. (2008), McLean, George F. (ed.), Paths to The Divine: Ancient and Indian, Indian Philosophical Studies, vol. XII, pp. 22–23, ISBN 9781565182486
  2. ↑ Pratt, George (1984) [1893]. A Grammar and Dictionary of the Samoan Language, with English and Samoan vocabulary (3rd and revised ed.). Papakura, New Zealand: R. MacMillan. p. 270. ISBN 978-0-908712-09-0. Retrieved 8 July 2010.
  3. ↑ Ratzel, Friedrich (1896), The History of Mankind, MacMillan
  4. ↑ Taonga, New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage Te Manatu. "Ngā atua – the gods". teara.govt.nz. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
  5. ↑ Funk, Leberecht (2014). "Entanglements between Tao People and Anito on Lanyu Island, Taiwan". In Musharbash, Y.; Presterudstuen, G.H. (eds.). Monster Anthropology in Australasia and Beyond. Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 143–159. doi:10.1057/9781137448651_9. ISBN 9781137448651.
  6. ↑ "Atua in Danganronpa: A Look at Polynesian Culture and Angie Yonaga". h-o-m-e.org. Retrieved 25 September 2023.


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